“They did a great job. I came back and felt like my house had been remodeled. I can’t imagine what the emotions of the students will be when they come back and see the school again for the first time,” she said.
The classroom that Romie shares with Lynne Brown, a math and science specialist, was one of five such summertime projects resulting from voter approval of the 2007 Bond Plan.
Under the 10-year, $597.1 million plan, campus air conditioning, heating, electrical and plumbing systems will be upgraded and maintained. School safety and security will also be enhanced.
This summer’s projects varied somewhat by individual campus, but most included improvements to air conditioning and water chiller systems, carpet replacement, fresh interior paint, new flooring and ceramic tile installation, ceiling tile and lighting replacements, new data cabling to support technology upgrades, added security cameras and electronic controlled access and magnetic door locks.
In all, more than $10 million in improvements have been completed on time and under budget at the five campuses.
“The projects approved by the Board of Trustees for this past summer were highly successful,” SBISD Senior Project Manager Terry Bell said. “The contractor was able to get into the campuses on time and worked diligently with the two architectural firms, and the Planning and Construction Department to work out details and complete these projects on time. Overall, the five combined projects were also successfully completed under budget.”
Exterior renovations, including new roofs at targeted schools, were also part of the systems-upgrade plan. A few specific interior and exterior improvement projects will extend through December 2008.
“These types of projects may not be glamorous, but they are critically important to these campuses,” said architect David Slattery, who is SBISD Bond Oversight Committee Co-chair, during an August meeting.
“Repairing worn out roofs and troubled mechanical systems: replacing interior finishes so that they can be better maintained; installation of technology infrastructure and security systems; and many other campus-specific projects will result in healthier, safer and more comfortable facilities for students and teachers,” he said.
“We’ve really done a lot here in eight weeks between the end of school and today,” Project Manager Kris Drosche said, standing inside Cedar Brook Elementary on a recent morning.
“We’ve painted every wall and door frame. All the overhead lights that you see have been changed. There is new carpet and flooring. The 2007 Bond Plan will bring all of our schools and maintenance up to a systems standard.”
Work crews labored summer weekends and, in the case of roofers, began as early as 3 a.m. to beat the daytime heat and humidity and to finish campus projects on time.
Prime Construction was awarded the systems-upgrade contract at the five schools through a competitive process. SHW Group Architects performed architecture and engineering services at Buffalo Creek, Cedar Brook and Treasure Forest elementary schools. PBK Architects provided similar services at Nottingham and Sherwood elementary schools.
As teachers returned to their classrooms in early August, all the shiny new floors and tile and fresh carpets were remarkable, but high marks also went to the work crews that delivered boxed up teaching supplies to the correct classrooms.
“I’m almost ready for school,” Cedar Brook Elementary art teacher Maria Casares said. “My boxes were all here when I came back, and they did a real good job of cleaning up.”
At Cedar Brook, the new color scheme blends tan and mauve wall colors with a multi-hued carpet pattern. New tiling around sinks and water fountains follows a white and green design. Student fountains were lowered for early grades, and many classrooms have both flooring tile and carpet areas for “wet” and “dry” activities.
“It all seems much lighter and brighter and cleaner,” marvels kindergarten teacher Julie Burt, also a Cedar Brook Elementary teacher. “My carpet before this was 15 years old. This is so much better. Light and open. We needed a redo. Thank you!”
In addition to the upgrades completed this summer at these five SBISD campuses, work is under way on many other 2007 Bond Plan projects:
Designs have been completed for the construction of two new replacement campuses – Hollibrook and Westwood elementary schools. Groundbreaking events may be held later this fall for both new construction projects. Bond funds will pay for the rebuilding of 12 schools built between 1938 and 1967.
Also in development is the design and construction of a transitional campus located on the grounds of the Spring Branch Education Center. This long-term but temporary campus of modular buildings will include traditional classrooms, as well as a library, and art, music and science classrooms.
Plans are already under way for second year projects, which include replacement of Housman and Ridgecrest elementary schools and building-systems upgrades at four elementary schools next summer – Bunker Hill, Rummel Creek, Spring Shadows and Terrace elementary schools.
Beginning design meetings have been held involving Memorial Middle School’s second year project, which includes building-system upgrades and an 11-classroom addition.
Also in the planning and design stage are new middle school running tracks, high school tennis courts, track and field renovations, and other 
athletic projects.
The SBISD Board of Trustees has appointed an 18-member Bond Oversight Committee to serve as advisors and make sure that bond projects remain faithful to the priorities that were outlined to district voters last year. To learn more, please visit the SBISD Bond Update website at http://www.springbranchisd.com/bond/bond.htm.
