GCISD committee studies facilities

A group of Grapevine-Colleyville parents, community leaders and staff members is working on priorities to recommend for a possible May 2016 bond election.

The Facility Innovation and Readiness Stakeholder Team (FIRST) consists of about 60 people who have been meeting since late summer to look at long-term capital improvement needs.

At the Oct. 6 meeting, Superintendent Robin Ryan told them that GCISD trustees had brainstormed a list of possible bond items, and the committee’s job was to review and prioritize district needs and submit recommendations to trustees.

“Around February, they’re going to be on a decision-making track to be able to move forward or decide maybe we need to do something different,” Ryan said.

To have a May election, trustees must approve a bond measure for the ballot no later than early March, 60 days in advance by law.

Some of the items on the board’s brainstorming list included a multipurpose training and events center, a performing arts center, new campuses to replace Cannon Elementary and Colleyville Middle School, upgrades and renovations to Mustang-Panther Stadium, a new pre-kindergarten center and improvements to the technology infrastructure.

The advisory committee divided into sub-groups to study various needs.

Shea Kirkman, parent of three GCISD students and a FIRST co-chair, said he serves on a group looking at needs prompted by enrollment growth.

“We’re identifying areas where we may need to add facilities,” Kirkman said.

While much of the district is already built out, there are a few areas with new housing developments, primarily around Grapevine and Heritage elementary schools. Other sub-groups are studying older campuses to determine if it makes sense to renovate or replace, as well as options for district-wide facilities and improvements.

“The committee right now is trying to identify which would be priorities and which could wait for a future bond,” Kirkman said.

According to GCISD officials, the committee will likely produce two bond package scenarios to submit for a community online review later this month.

This story was originally published November 5, 2015 at 2:13 PM with the headline "GCISD committee studies facilities."