EVADALE, Texas — The public is getting a better idea of when construction will begin on multiple Evadale Independent School District projects.
Back in May, voters passed a $24 million bond. The district says they are dealing with faulty plumbing, broken air conditioning and old classrooms.
This bond will fund two new schools and remodel the junior high school.
Evadale ISD Superintendent Kevin Shipley tells 12News finalizing the construction process for three school buildings requires lots of planning.
So far, the district has purchased new busses and selected the middle school's colors.
"Right now if everybody just looks there's no dirt being moved, it looks like nothing is going on, but we've been very busy," said Shipley.
Evadale ISD officials are working to improve three school buildings. Currently, students are learning in an environment with several issues, according to Shipley.
"We had some air conditioning systems that won't work. We have prioritized those. There's a few we have fixed. The others we have just kind of patched along," Shipley said.
Faulty plumbing and old classrooms are soon to be a distant memory thanks to the $24 million bond passed by voters.
"It just makes everybody feel better to know you have a good campus," said Jacoby Johnson, a former student.
Now, the pre-construction phase is beginning. Johnson is excited about the upgrades.
"With things being fixed here and there it'll definitely help them throughout their following years of school," Johnson said.
The first on the list is a remodel of the middle school.
"I now can tell you what it's gonna look like, what our flooring is gonna be, what colors we've got in there and some finishes," said Shipley.
That process is expected to begin in April 2025 and be finished by July 2025.
"We can move the high school kids into the old junior high, the junior high kids into their new building then we'll start the process of demolishing the high school," Shipley said.
Next the high school demolition process begins in June 2025, with a groundbreaking for the elementary school scheduled to start in May 2025.
Shipley has a message for other voters this election cycle.
"Look at the proposals, see if they're valid. Go take a look at the school. When people walk through ours, it sold it," he said.
Evadale ISD's entire construction process is expected to be finished by August 2026.