ORANGE, Texas — West Orange-Cove Consolidated Independent School District administrators are moving forward after voters passed a $72 million bond earlier this month.
The bond will allow for upgrades including a new North Early Learning Center to be built behind West Orange-Stark Elementary.
"Building a new North is going to shift the way we do early education with the early childhood," said West Orange-Cove CISD Superintendent Dr. Rickie Harris.
There will be several upgrades over the upcoming years.
"We're hoping to be opening the building for August of 2027," said Dr. Harris.
The district says the facility will not be used as a school, but will be used in a different way.
"We're not going to sell the building. That's not gonna happen," he said.
Some community members are concerned about safety and what will become of the old campus. Some fear that the neighborhood will decline.
"We just don't want to have another building in our area that's going to be going to ruins," said resident Ricky Neal.
Neal says he along with his spouse voted for the bond, but wants district leaders to give clear and concise plans.
"The district also just put a brand new playground in the back," he said. What's gonna [going to] happen with that, with the playground?"
The district is set to meet with the architect and construction manager on Monday to map out plans and discuss a schedule, according to Dr. Harris.
Dr. Harris says the district hears the residents' concerns and says they are not planning to abandon the current facility.
"We are probably going to use it as a distribution center for shipping and receiving and storage within the district," he said.
The bond also includes money to update districtwide air conditioning, technology, buses and more.
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This is a developing story. We will update with more if and when we receive more confirmed information.