BRIDGE CITY, Texas — Bridge City Independent School District broke ground on their new career and technical education facility Monday.
The building is part of bond that Southeast Teas voters approved May 2022, which also promises a new and improved middle school building.
The bond was first proposed in 2019, but failed.
Superintendent Dr. Mike Kelly spear-headed the effort to get the nearly $15-million bond on the ballot in the first place.
He says the district is growing and that's why they need more room to keep up with the student body.
"It'll be incredible to really see the ground get broken and concrete poured and still going up and just getting closer every day from this point forward," Kelly said.
The CTE Building will house Bridge City High School's floral, welding, nursing and cosmetology departments, just to name a few.
Natasha Garrett is the CEO of G&G Enterprises, which one of the district's construction partners.
She says they're finally at a point where they will be moving dirt to build the 40,000 square-foot facility.
G&G Enterprises is a second-generation Southeast Texas company, so for Garrett, serving locals is a priority.
"We have employees that their children are in this very district and so to be able to see the excitement in them as they know that they're working for a company that's locally doing work, that's making a difference in our youth is crucial," Garrett said.
Other contractors with Southeast Texas ties are also working on this project.
"98% of the subcontractors working on our career and technology center are local, are coming out of the golden triangle Southeast Texas and so you know what a better way to support the community that supported us," Kelly said.
Superintendent Kelly says they plan to have the building open by March 2025, but he's hoping it'll be ready by January 2025, so they can start the new semester in the new facility.
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On May 7, 2022, voters in Bridge City voted yes to two propositions that will benefit students but raise taxes.
Proposition A is for $57.7 million and will pay for a new middle school. The school will accommodate 900 students.
Proposition B is for $14.7 million and would pay for a new career and technology center. The center will have additional lab space, classroom space and storage.
Together the bonds total more than $72 million. District officials said both propositions were needed and are aimed at allowing growth within the Bridge City Independent School District.
"They have needed for a long time to get a new middle school, and I think this is the time to do it," Kelly previously told 12News. "Our career and technology students that programs are busting and so we're turning a lot of kids away in those programs. I think people understand that and people don't want that to happen."
The new middle school campus received 1,422 votes and the new career and technology facility received 1,449.
Kelly said the during the second vote, the bonds were separated so voters could have more options.
"We heard over and over, 'If you just ask for a middle school, we would vote for middle school, you know. We get it. You need a middle school, but don't lump it all together,'" Kelly said.