Rendering of the rebuilt Clear View High School.
Progress with the 2017 Clear Creek ISD bond construction has remained on schedule despite the COVID-19 pandemic, CCISD announced in January, adding that some projects have even seen an accelerated schedule due to the three-month closure of school buildings last school year.
Two major projects currently underway are the complete rebuild of Clear View High School and the major renovation of Ed White E-STEM Magnet School. Both renovations — expected to be finished by the end of 2021 — will bring the campuses up to current standards with the latest technology.
For Clear View High, the foundation has been poured and the school has begun to take shape with steel columns being erected and exterior sheathing being installed. Parking lots for this phase of construction have also been completed. The site is directly next to the old building, which was built in 1938.
“We had to tear down a portion of the old school over the summer in order to have space for the new building,” Director of Facilities Paul Miller said. “This allowed us to relocate the service yard so we can continue construction while students go to school next door.”
The new, state-of-the-art building will increase capacity from 250 to 400 total students and include new opportunities for the cosmetology and certified nursing assistant programs at the school. A new wing for the certified welding program will also expand the District’s Career and Technical Education reach for students across CCISD. Completion of Clear View is still on track for December 2021 with students moving in January 2022.
ED WHITE RENOVATION
Ed White E-STEM Magnet School is one of seven schools in CCISD that are at least 50 years old. The $16.4 million major renovation taking place adds to and renovates the entire campus. It also includes lab and Maker Space additions to support science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) learning.
The school is situated within the City of El Lago in the Seabrook area, which has created traffic issues during drop-off and pick-up times. The new parking lot, driveways and parent stacking lane to alleviate these issues are completed, as well as the new underground storm sewer system and detention pond.
“The parking lots and parent pick-up line was a top priority as it was a major concern for the community in El Lago,” said Miller. “The new parking addition allows us to stack on our property instead of in the community.”
Demolition of interior walls and original science and art rooms in preparation for the new addition and the required re-routing of utilities to the gym is finished. The building pad and structural piers for the addition are installed in preparation for structural steel to be erected.
“This phase has seen a slight delay due to insufficient water pressure from Harris County WCID #50 for the new fire sprinkler system,” said Miller. “We are now required to install a large fire sprinkler pump which requires significant design and coordination. The Board of Trustees approved a change order adding this scope of work to the project during their December meeting. We will make up that time in the spring and summer.”
Other building projects in the queue are the design work on renovations at Ross Elementary and Whitcomb Elementary, and the recent start of construction at Landolt Elementary and Hall Elementary.
SAFETY UPGRADES
Most notable over the past semester has been the substantial completion of the safety and security upgrades to all CCISD buildings in December 2020.
The District has made safety an intentional and strategic focus of day-to-day operations for nearly a decade; however, after the tragic events in Santa Fe ISD in 2018, former Superintendent Dr. Greg Smith called for a citizens committee to review existing practices in CCISD and make a set of recommendations to further enhance school safety. Facility improvements was a major item on the list.
“The 2017 Bond package had included camera replacements at each campus, but the board approved additional funding out of bond savings to complete the work brought forth by the committee,” Miller said. “This $29.9 million project included upgrading doors and hardware, indoor cameras and access control. We have moved to a much more robust and cutting-edge system for the safety of our staff and students.”
This has been almost a year and half-long process ever since these upgrades were approved by the School Safety Committee in July 2018. View the full list of safety recommendations here.
