Renovations at two Dallas ISD campuses are expected to begin next year as officials continue spending $3.4 billion in bond funding.
At Henry B. Gonzalez Personalized Learning Academy, the project calls for installing a new visitors vestibule, digital marquee, exterior lighting, and security system and replacing the fire alarm system. Improvements at Sylvia Mendez CREW Leadership Academy include the installation of a detached entry canopy, digital marquee, new millwork in classrooms, an ADA-compliant ramp to the building entrance, and new security cameras and fire alarm system, according to a state filing.
Both projects are expected to begin in July next year.
The Mendez project bears an estimated construction cost of $2.9 million with an expected delivery date of May 2026, while the Gonzalez renovations carry an estimated building cost of $629,000 with an expected delivery date of April 2026. McAfee3 Architects of Dallas is listed as the design firm on the filings for both projects.
Dallas ISD’s $3.7 billion bond election in 2020 included five propositions, but voters rejected those that would have funded the construction of a performing arts center and stadium and natatorium improvements. At that time, the average age of the district’s campuses was almost 52 years old.
During the same year as the bond election, the Texas Public Policy Foundation reported a significant drop in student enrollment from 157,111 in 2009-2010 to 155,119 in 2018-2019. Meanwhile, Dallas’ population increased from about 5,041,000 to 6,201,000 over the same period.
The district’s loss of students to homeschooling, charters, and other education alternatives may partly be attributed to underwhelming student achievement scores. For example, 41% of DISD scored at grade level on the STAAR exam in 2021-2022. Comparably, the statewide average was 48%, according to the Texas Education Agency.
And while almost 20% of its graduating class in 2022 did not receive a diploma in four years, 10% failed to do so statewide.