SAISD to host series of community meetings to get input on renovations to schools

Funds will come from $450M 2016 bond

SAN ANTONIO – The San Antonio Independent School District is getting ready for some major renovations to 13 of its schools.

The district will be hosting a series of community meetings to inform residents about the projects and to get their input.

The $450 million 2016 bond will provide the funds for the renovations, which include replacing infrastructure systems. In most cases, many of the schools are more than 40 years old.

Of the 13 schools being renovated, seven are high schools, three are middle schools, one is an elementary school and two are academies.

Tafolla Middle School is clean, but very outdated and in desperate need of renovations. 

“You can either have cool air or you can hear each other talk,” Principal Jeff Price said about how the 50-year-old air conditioning unit is still in use but hinders the students’ learning environment.

There are broken sinks and furniture that cannot be moved and chalkboards and radiators still in use. All of this will be done away with once the $25 million renovations are complete in about three years.

Most importantly will be the security upgrades in the plans. 

“I think a lot of the security pieces being a 50-year-old building it was a different time, it’s really easy access to get in,” Price said.  The lobby will be enclosed.

The middle school only has seventh- and eighth-grade students, which will be moved around to other areas of the school during construction.

The first community meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Jefferson High School.

To see the full list of community meetings, click here.


About the Authors:

Patty Santos joined the KSAT 12 News team in July 2017. She has a proven track record of reporting on hard-hitting news that affects the community.