July 19, 2006
Building for the Future - District Holds Groundbreakings for 2 New Schools
 “As our parents planted for us, so must we plant for our children. Ladies and gentlemen, today we plant for our children.” Those words drew rousing applause as onlookers celebrated the groundbreaking of two new elementary schools July 19. Mike Blum, Chairman of the Community Capital Advisory Committee, quoted the proverb above.
One new school will replace Thigpen and Zavala elementary schools while the other replaces Fields Elementary. Both schools are expected to be completed in time for the 2007-08 school year. “This is one of those occassions that is touching everybody’s heart,” Superintendent Yolanda Chapa said. “Because it’s whats right for children, which is giving them the facilities which they need so desparately.” Mrs. Chapa, the School Board plus city officials, parents, students and community members gathered at the ceremonies, one held right after the other, to celebrate the beginning of what will become a fully-modern 66,000-square foot school. Designed by architechual firm ERO International, the schools will also include: - Room for 700 students
- State of the art computer labs
- A modernized library
- A large cafetorium
- Expanded parking
- A secured entrance
- Energy efficiency
The new schools will be about 60 percent larger than the ones they are replacing. Thigpen, which opened in 1947, rests on 41,000-square feet. Zavala (1957) takes up 44,000-square feet and Fields (1947) currently has 39,000-square feet. The as yet unnamed replacement school for Thigpen/Zavala will sit between the two schools, north of Zavala and west of Thigpen, at roughly the corner of S. 25th St. and Fresno Ave. Fields will keep its name and be located behind (north) of the current facility. Together, both schools will launch the construction phase for the $97.8 million school bond passed by voters in May 2005. School Board President, Richard Moore, began by thanking the public. “I want to thank the voters in McAllen for their support in the bond election in May 2005,” he said. “It’s because of that support, it’s because of that expression of confidence, that we’re able to do what we’re doing today.”
Mrs. Chapa thanked school faculty, administrators and parents for their part. |
McAllen Bond Monthly Report - March 2006 
View a presentation showing the design development for the future Thigpen-Zavala/Fields Elementary schools.
McAllen Bond Monthly Report - February 2006
New McAllen Elementary Schools Design Development Presentation (Adobe® Acrobat® Reader® required)
