Ribbon cuttings and public tours mark twin Open Houses

Spring Branch Athletic Complex

Police Command Station

Spring Branch ISD celebrated twin milestones Tuesday as its leaders cut red ribbons on two of the near-final 1999 Bond Program projects. Community visitors and guests toured the district’s new Police Command Station and the Spring Branch Athletic Complex during Open House events held March 11.

At 11 a.m., guests and visitors gathered in front of the new Police Command Station, located at 9009 Ruland, to take part in the district’s official ribbon cutting for its newly built operations center.

The police command center, located just north of the Spring Branch Education Center near Westview and Campbell, began operations earlier this year. It reflects the beginning of a new era in school security and policing operations in Spring Branch and west Harris County, district Police Chief Chuck Brawner said.

The $4.7 million, 14,000-square-foot command center includes a storm-proof police command and crisis center that can operate even if normal electrical power is lost.

The center is equipped with a state-of-the-art digital closed circuit television (CCTV) and school alarm sensor monitoring system; conference and training rooms; new offices for supervisors, truancy and patrol officers, and other employees; file and record rooms; a property room for evidence; and holding cells for juveniles and adults.

The site also provides a kennel for the department’s K-9 dogs and a secure location for a joint mobile operations center.

The district’s 40-member police department was housed for the past two years in the Westchester Academy for International Studies complex after its longtime office at 8888 Westview was shut down due to insurmountable building issues, including a leaking roof and poor air quality.

Built with funds from the $250 million 1999 Bond Program, the new command center aims to help fulfill one of the SBISD Board of Trustees Five-Year goals – creating a pervasive culture of safety and respect. At the same time, several speakers noted that the two Open Houses foreshadow the district’s upcoming transformation through new construction projects.

Under the district’s successful 2007 Bond Issue, SBISD will build 12 new elementary schools during the decade ahead to replace its oldest campuses. Bond funds will also help pay for new school buses and upgrade safety, security, technology and athletic facilities across the 32,000-student district.

“This is just the beginning of an incredible time for the Spring Branch school system as we begin to transform our facilities and upgrade systems,” SBISD Board of Trustees President Mike Falick said.

“We could not do what we do without the incredible support of our community and the support of our incredible taxpayers. We see that here in these two Open Houses,” Superintendent of Schools Duncan Klussmann said. “All of us will begin to see that more clearly as we begin to transform our 12 elementary facilities. We could not do the work that is done in this district every day without your incredible support.”

Joining the Superintendent and SBISD Board of Trustees at the police command center were the district’s Senior Staff, district administrators and principals, law enforcement officials from area communities and school districts, Village mayors, neighborhood leaders and community members.

The retired officers joined with Superintendent Klussmann to surprise SBISD Police Chief Chuck Brawner with a special plaque. “SBISD has built an incredible police department and a lot of that work was done by our retired officers and by Chief Brawner,” the Superintendent told the gathered crowd.

After spending two years in temporary offices and then working on the new command center’s final, move-in check list, the police chief sounded somewhat relieved to be finished. “It’s been a challenge, but we’re finally home. I’ve learned a lot about electrical systems and air conditioning… I’d say that it’s been 99 percent enjoyable,” Chief Brawner quipped. He thanked the Board of Trustees and many others for their support during the past two years.

As if on cue, the new police center’s HDTV video display technology showed its promise after Hedwig Village Police reported a man with a gun near Memorial High School. The police alarm occurred during the center’s public tour and cake and refreshment hour, resulting in same-day television coverage. Memorial High and Spring Branch Middle schools were placed on lockdown during the brief event, their empty halls displayed on overhead screens. (TV news report; includes video).

Earlier in the day, new school alarm technology and video displays helped catch a suspected burglar at Spring Forest Middle School, which led to television coverage, too. A police dog finally forced that suspect out of the school building.

Architects for the Police Command Center were PBK Architects. Brookstone was the builder.

At 1 p.m., more guests and visitors gathered outside the new $5 million, 16,500-square-foot SBISD Athletic Complex for a second Open House ceremony with a ribbon cutting, cake and refreshments, and public tours. The Athletic Complex is located at 1050 Dairy Ashford between Tully Stadium and Don Coleman Coliseum.

During his remarks, SBISD Athletics Executive Director L. P. Jones noted that the new complex with its field house, athletic offices and operations area replaces a field house built in 1965 when Tully Stadium first opened.

The old structure had two dressing rooms, one training room and two field-equipment storage rooms. The dressing rooms had no air conditioning. No updates occurred when Don Coleman Coliseum opened during the 1970s, and the old facility lacked enough space to handle growing soccer and girl’s athletic teams.

“With this new structure, the district has the ability to host multiple sporting events at Tully Stadium and Don Coleman Community Coliseum at the same time, while providing meeting and dressing areas for all of the teams, workers and officials,” Jones said.

The new Athletic Complex has three separate areas. The first building area includes reception and sign-in meeting areas, offices and conference and staff meeting rooms. The field house area has six dressing rooms with handicapped-accessible toilet and shower areas, storage, two training rooms and areas for medical and field supplies. Dressing rooms for officials are also provided in this new area.

A center hall structure allows equipment and supplies to be moved to the floor of the Don Coleman Coliseum or to interior areas. The hall also provides separate access to dressing rooms and training rooms. An operations area houses a laundry, concession storage, work rooms and indoor storage areas.

Open House guests included longtime school district officials Don and Mary Kay Coleman, administrators and principals, district and area coaches and athletic boosters. Among others, Athletics Executive Director Jones thanked the Board of Trustees and Superintendent Klussmann for their commitment to continual improvements in student athletics and their foresight. “They have a great vision for this district. We need to support them and their vision,” Jones said.

Architect for the Athletics Complex was SHW Group. Brookstone was the builder.

In separate but related news, a community forum will be held March 27 to gather input on naming the new field house after former SBISD Athletics Director Mike Williamson.

posted 03-13-08