Shirley Hall Middle School Update

After offering our community the opportunity to take “One Last Stroll Down the Hall,” the original Shirley Hall Middle School closed to the public at the end of the 2016-2017 school year. Classrooms and offices were packed up and usable furniture was distributed to other Weatherford ISD schools. In June, fencing and “No Trespassing” signs surrounded the campus as we began the asbestos abatement process. The demolition of this building, built in 1967, is scheduled to begin in mid-July.

The new Shirley Hall Middle School campus will open in August, serving students in grades 6-8. Before the new school year begins, Weatherford ISD will celebrate the opening of the new HMS campus on August 18, 2017 with a community event that will include a Cornerstone Ceremony and Chamber ribbon-cutting. Public tours of this campus will be held at a later date.

The completion of the new HMS campus will signal the end of the work associated with 2015 bond election. All work has been completed on schedule and under budget.

The 2015 bond package addressed two key areas:
• Facility improvements at all existing WISD schools to extend the life of each facility
• Grade level realignment to better serve current and future WISD students and provide greater operational efficiencies

PROPOSITION ONE – EXISTING FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS: $18,800,000
The average age of WISD schools is 30-years-old. The bond allowed for upgrades and improvements to comply with current codes and standards, increase safety and security, make schools more energy efficient and extend the life of each facility. Projects included:
• District-wide upgrades to major building systems that exceed the limits of the District’s operational budget, like heating and air conditioning, lighting and electrical
• Improvements to exterior issues including masonry, concrete and site drainage
• Renovations to aging facilities for compliance with building code and the Americans with Disabilities Act
• Safety and security upgrades including fire alarm replacements, access control systems, classroom intruder function door hardware and security cameras

PROPOSITION TWO – GRADE REALIGNMENT & GROWTH: $49,500,000
At the time of the 2015 bond election, WISD elementary schools served grades K-6 and middle schools served grades 7-8. With the passage of Proposition Two, elementary campuses were realigned to include grades K-5 and middle schools to grades 6-8. This provides better alignment with age-appropriate curriculum and state accountability standards and eliminates the need to transport sixth graders to middle schools for advanced classes and fine arts. In addition, realignment provides space for student growth over the next decade at the elementary school level. Projects included:
Move Sixth Grade to Middle School
• New Hall Middle School serving Grades 6-8: $41,100,000
To renovate and add sixth grade to the existing Hall Middle School, built in 1967, bring it up to modern standards and requirements and to create an equitable environment to Tison Middle School would cost $31.3 million and extend the life of the facility by 20 years. Therefore, the District proposed, and voters agreed, to replace the existing facility with a new school at its current location to serve grades 6-8 at a cost of $41.1 million and with a 50+ year lifecycle.
• Sixth Grade Addition to Tison Middle School: $8,400,000
Constructed a sixth-grade classroom addition to Tison Middle School to also make it a grade 6-8 campus as well as track and field upgrades

PROPOSITION THREE – SAFETY & SECURITY AT ALL CAMPUSES: $6,600,000
Construction of controlled entrances to improve security at all campuses
Included the reconfiguration of internal spaces to house administration at the entrance of the facility requiring visitors to report to the campus office and present identification before being granted access to the main part of the school.

Published July 6, 2017 Print