killeen — The Killeen ISD school board unanimously approved the design of a $54 million middle school during Tuesday night’s meeting.
According to the district, the new campus (Middle School 14) will play a major role in Killeen ISD’s plan to virtually eliminate the need for trailers to house middle school students on crowded campuses.
The new school is not part of the proposed bond program on the ballot for voter approval on May 5.
Officials said the school will be paid with existing funds saved and set aside for school construction as a result of the efficient management of the budget by the school board and the district administration.
Middle School 14 will service the fast-growing student population in the southeast area of Harker Heights. The school will be located on 33 undeveloped acres west of Warriors Path.
The new 1,250-student campus is scheduled to open for class in 2020. The district said they will rezone its other middle schools and reduce the student enrollments enough that all the students at each middle school campus will take classes inside the main school building.
Science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) program will be included for students in grades 6-8. The school design board is expected to vote on the following Tuesday:
- Classrooms
- Science and computer labs at each grade
- STEM labs
- Cafeteria with stage
- Library and media center
- Band and choir suites with an option for an additional orchestra suite
- Art rooms
- Theater arts room with stage access
- Shared computer labs
- Gym and weight room
- Courtyards and outdoor learning spaces
- Competition field
- Two practice fields
New construction on middle school number 14 and the new school bond program on the May 5 ballot will help eliminate the need for more than 100 trailers that are being used to house students on KISD secondary campuses, the district stated.
In addition to the design approval, the board approved a request from Clear Creek Elementary School to discontinue requiring students to follow the normal district dress code rather than having a standard dress.