WACO, Texas (FOX 44) -- The Waco Independent School District (ISD) has been hard at work on a series of extensive construction projects, with the longest underway since 2022.
The three major campuses currently under renovation -- Waco High School, Kendrick Elementary School, and South Waco Elementary School -- are all seeing substantial progress, with improvements aimed at enhancing student safety, boosting learning environments, and providing new opportunities for staff and faculty.
Waco High School started its renovations in 2022, while both Kendrick and South Waco Elementary schools began their transformations earlier this year.
The district is excited for what they call "new beginnings," as construction continues to move forward on each campus.
"From the planning, to the execution, to the drawings, and then to all the construction folks that are out here bringing this thing to life -- it's a process that takes so many hours and fingerprints and sleepless nights," said Jonathan Grant, Waco ISD School Board Trustee. "Today we get to see the fruit of that."
Construction at Kendrick Elementary is progressing rapidly, and the campus is now expected to be completed ahead of schedule. Originally projected for completion in May 2025, the school is now expected to open a month earlier, in April 2025.
Grant emphasized the transformational impact the new campus will have on students. "The facility is going to blow your socks off," he said. "It's going to allow you a place to be creative, allow you a place to create an environment where your students can dream, be inspired, but frankly, a place they deserve."
Kendrick Elementary have been placed in a temporary school building until their original location is complete.
Meanwhile, South Waco Elementary is also progressing with its renovations. Principal Amy Atnip said teachers will be transitioning into the new wing of the building before the Christmas break, with renovations on the older section of the campus set to begin soon after.
Both Kendrick and South Waco are expanding as they're expecting more students this year due to the closing of Alta Vista Elementary.
"We are busy packing the teachers that are going to be moving over, right before Christmas break," Atnip said. "Then that old part of the building will begin renovations."
Angelo Ochoa, a Waco ISD School Board member, is particularly excited about the new Waco High School building, as he has children attending the school.
"I've got two kids at Waco High right now, so knowing that they're going to get to enjoy this space and my younger kids are going to get to enjoy this space, it's very exciting," Ochoa said.
These renovations are part of a larger district-wide effort to improve educational environments for students. Each of the campuses is set to open in time for the 2025-2026 school year, providing upgraded facilities and enhanced learning spaces designed to support students and foster new opportunities for the Waco ISD community.
The district remains committed to creating safer, more inspiring places for students and teachers to thrive, and it looks forward to the completion of these projects in the coming months.