Current situation
Jim Ross—TISD’s director of projects and development for 2021 bond projects—presented the findings of an architect’s feasibility study, which was completed Aug. 24. The study examined whether the planned intermediate school could be built at Creekside Park Junior High instead of at the Tomball Innovation Center—which is located at FM 2920 and Hufsmith-Kohrville Road—after the district received backlash from Creekside-area parents in April.
Ross said if an intermediate school was added in Creekside, the architect’s feasibility study found:
- The intermediate school would “significantly crowd” CPJH’s building.
- Outdoor activities at CPJH and the intermediate school would experience “significant limitation” due to lost outdoor practice fields and restricted access to competition fields.
- Traffic issues would be created on Creekside Green Drive, which would require an added turn lane and traffic light.
- The site has limited utility capacity that may not be sufficient to serve two schools.
- Drainage issues at the location would require additional underground detention.
- Permitting from Harris County would be difficult and expensive to obtain.
Sorting out details
Findings recommend building the intermediate school at the Tomball Innovation Center, Ross said.
“There are no options for purchasing property,” Ross said. “I've heard others say, ‘Well just use eminent domain.’ In the state of Texas, eminent domain cannot be used if an alternative exists. We have ... the Tomball Innovation Center.”
No action was taken by trustees during the Oct. 10 meeting regarding the intermediate school project.
What trustees are saying
“I wanted desperately to find a solution, so I convey some disappointment that we couldn't in Creekside, but I'm as well grateful that we have a place to [build the intermediate school],” board President Lee McLeod said.
In case you missed it
Ross was tasked by trustees with looking into expansion options at Creekside Park Junior High for the intermediate school in May, as previously reported by Community Impact.
On April 10, TISD staff presented trustees with a plan to change the proposed elementary school at the Tomball Innovation Center for which funding was included in the district's 2021 bond package to an intermediate school. The goal of this plan was to provide capacity relief to the Creekside-area elementary schools, including Creekside Forest, Timber Creek and Creekview, Community Impact previously reported.
At an April 17 town hall meeting to discuss the intermediate school, Creekside-area parents and families expressed opposition to the plan and vocalized concerns with the bond language, the location of the campus and transportation.
Also of note
The estimated cost of the TISD intermediate school after construction—not including furniture, contractor costs and design costs—is $40.9 million, Ross said Oct. 10.
The Creekside area east of Burroughs Park to the border of the district makes up 20.01% of TISD’s total property tax base, or $3.96 billion of the district’s $19.81 billion total market value, as previously reported by Community Impact.
About 4,600 students of TISD’s total 22,000 students reside in Creekside.
