Spring Branch ISD celebrated another bond program milestone recently as its Board of Trustees, district and campus leaders, and teachers and students met to recognize the beginning of construction of the district’s first new, two-story elementary school rebuilding project.
The well-attended afternoon library program and outdoor groundbreaking ceremony was held on Aug. 27 at Ridgecrest Elementary, located at 2015 Ridgecrest directly south of Hammerly.
The new Ridgecrest Elementary campus is the third of 12 elementary school replacement construction projects approved by voters in November 2007 as part of a $597.1 million bond issue that will make improvements to all SBISD campuses. These elementary schools were built between 1938 and 1967.
The new Ridgecrest Elementary, a modern Texas style, 100,000 square-feet, two-story facility with a brick and stone facade, will accommodate up to 800 students on two floors. The new school will include special music, art and science classrooms and a large modern library that will function as a campus hub for student learning and technology applications.
Speakers for the afternoon library program included Superintendent of Schools Duncan Klussmann, Board of Trustees President David Converse, Ridgecrest Elementary Principal Patricia Thomas and fourth-grade bilingual teacher Stephanie Robledo, who attended Ridgecrest and graduated from the school as a child.
Board of Trustees President David Converse, Ph.D., noted that the 100,000-square-feet campus will be the first two-story learning facility built under the ambitious bond plan.
“What a first!” he declared. “The development of these new schools represents a tremendous and a thoughtful partnership between the school district and our community as we reinvest in the future of our community and our students by rebuilding our schools.
“Not only will this new school be a place for students to learn, but it also will be a community center – drawing together members from all of the Spring Branch community – students, parents, volunteers, mentors, taxpayers and others,” continued Board President Converse.
Statement by Board of Trustees President David Converse, Ph.D.
Good afternoon and welcome from the SBISD Board of Trustees! Today is a fabulous day to celebrate groundbreaking for the new Ridgecrest Elementary School.
Ridgecrest is the third new elementary school to be constructed as part of our 2007 Bond Program. It will be the first of the new elementary schools to be a two-story building. And what a first!
The development of these new schools represents a tremendous and a thoughtful partnership between the school district and our community as we reinvest in the future of our community and our students by rebuilding our schools.
“Not only will this new school be a place for students to learn, but it also will be a community center – drawing together members from all of the Spring Branch community – students, parents, volunteers, mentors, taxpayers and others.
This new school looks fantastic on the drawing board and will look even better when it is finished. As today’s Ridgecrest students, you especially should drive by and look at the Hollibrook and Westwood school projects to get a better feel for what the final project will look like.
Today is a great day for our school district and our community – especially the Ridgecrest community. Thank you for coming and giving us your support. Without you, this project would not have been possible. Go Roadrunners!
During her remarks, Principal Patricia Thomas introduced assistant principals Dell Rodriguez and Laverie Wise, a majority of the teaching staff and several students. Also recognized was longtime Ridgecrest Elementary Principal Cheri Brajenovich, now an administrator in the district’s human resources department.
Comparing the elementary school’s academic and student social-development accomplishments to the business best-seller “Good to Great,” Principal Thomas said the new school was being praised. “We feel that we are going from good to great!” she exclaimed.
Stephanie Robledo, a fourth-grade bilingual teacher, who attended the school and served on safety patrol as a fifth-grader, called Ridgecrest the foundation of her educational experience.
“This is bittersweet for me. Bitter because the old structure that houses all my old memories will be replaced, but sweet because I am part of a new era,” she said. During her school years two decades ago, a new library, hallways and cafeteria were built at the Ridgecrest campus.
“I am honored to be a part of the new changes at Ridgecrest. It is amazing to me to be here during the new construction once again, 25 years later. While this structure will be replaced by a new state-of-the-art building, the values and foundation of my education and what Ridgecrest stands for will continue,” she said.
Statement by Stephanie Robledo, fourth-grade bilingual teacher and former Ridgecrest Elementary student
Good afternoon, I am Stephanie Robledo, a fourth-grade bilingual teacher. I am honored to be a part of the new changes here at Ridgecrest. I was born in Monterrey, Mexico, and I was raised in Houston where my immigrant parents came to chase the American Dream.
I attended Ridgecrest Elementary from the first- through fifth-grades, and I was on safety patrol in the fifth grade. The school hallways today are full of vivid memories from my past. I remember the new library, the new hallways, and the cafeteria. This school was the foundation of my education.
This is bittersweet for me. Bitter because the old structure that houses all my old memories will be replaced, but sweet because I am part of a new era,” she said. During her school years two decades ago, a new library, hallways and cafeteria were built at the Ridgecrest campus.
I am honored to be a part of the new changes at Ridgecrest. It is amazing to me to be here during the new construction once again, 25 years later. While this structure will be replaced by a new state-of-the-art building, the values and foundation of my education and what Ridgecrest stands for will continue. Ridgecrest Elementary continues to be as strong, if not stronger, because of its strong values and its belief in education for all children.
Leading more than 100 guests and dignitaries in the Pledge of Allegiance were Student Council student representatives Tomas Rodriguez and Rachel Castro. “I’m excited that we will soon get a new school,” Tomas said.
“Soon, you’ll have a wonderful new school,” replied Superintendent Klussmann. Students will remain housed at the current Ridgecrest Elementary during the multi-phase project while the new building is erected directly to the north and west of the present elementary building.
Building plan projections call for the current school to be demolished next summer; the new school would then open in August 2010. “We’re on time and under budget, and we’re fiscally conservative,” Superintendent Klussmann said at the event, speaking of bond projects now under way.
Project architectural services at Ridgecrest Elementary are provided by Pfluger Associates Architects. Firm architects Michelle Dudley and Guillermo Cabrera attended the campus groundbreaking.
The building contractor is Gamma Construction. Project cost is about $15.2 million. SBISD project managers include Terry Bell and Richard Skalski.