BEAUMONT, Texas — The current class of 269 students at the Lucas Pre-K Center campus in the north end of Beaumont will officially be the last to graduate from the aging campus.
Beaumont Independent School District school board members passed a motion to close the campus at a board meeting Thursday evening.
The agenda item says staff and students for the 2023-24 school year be moved to other campus around the district.
The motion passed unanimously in a 7-0 vote.
Moving the students would not impact them or their parents and staff would be assigned to new pre-k classrooms to be opened at the Martin, Jones-Clark, Homer and Caldwood campuses according to the agenda.
The district is in the process of upgrading all campuses by adding ballistic film to all windows to slow down any threats along with other safety enhancements according to the agenda.
When they were getting estimates for adding the ballistic film to windows on the Lucas campus, the district learned that all of the windows would need to be replaced.
The cost to replace the windows is $4 million according to the agenda.
In addition to the new windows the campus also needs other upgrades and repairs that total $8.14 million according to the agenda item.
Beaumont ISD Superintendent Dr. Allen says issues at the Lucas Pre-K came up about two years ago when officials noticed water was running underneath the building.
Some BISD board members were emotional talking about making the tough decision to close the campus.
"With supply chain the way they are getting qualified people, it's a long and expensive process and the board is not at a place to spend that kind of money," said BISD Board Member Joe Evans.
"We want parents to know students may if they have siblings they can attend school with their siblings instead of being at a separate campus. We always want to do what's best for the students and families," said BISD Associate Superintendent Dr. Anita Frank.
Under the closure plan the district would continue to maintain the facility and look at using it for another district department.
The Texas Education Association only requires specific safety standards for buildings that are occupied by students according to the agenda.
Here's what the campus needs bring it up to the same safety and air quality standards at other district campuses:
- Mechanical upgrades $4m
- Boiler upgrades $200K
- Plumbing upgrades $1.2m
- Window replacements $1.2m
- Door replacement & vestibules $325K
- Utilities $70K • Fencing $60K
- PA System & Fire Alarm System $400K
- Roof $685K
- Estimated Total Cost for Building Repairs $8.14 M
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This is a developing story. We will update with more if and when we receive more confirmed information.