Seminole bond

In some media accounts, the Seminole Independent School District’s bond in 2007 was described as "enormous" and "whopping." At $110 million, it narrowly passed, 736-682 in mid-May, thus making it the largest sum of money any area district asked its taxpayers to pay in that election.

But, as superintendent Doug Harriman said then and repeated on the site of the 165,000 square-foot junior high under construction in late October, the projects included in the bond are on a similar scale.

"Everything we told them we could do is getting done without exception," Herriman said. "Anything else is gravy."

So far, the district has crossed off many projects on its to-do list — and added others.

This March, a new 575-seat softball stadium, 6,000 square-foot girls fieldhouse and a 22,500-square foot indoor practice facility were completed. Field turf at Wig Wam Stadium was installed, and the district also purchased four activity buses and a utility truck for the band.

The gravy?

Field turf at the softball stadium and renovations to the Ag Barn, used for activities related to FFA.

Those upgrades weren’t part of the original plans, but where the district sees wiggle room, it tries to fill it with something useful, Herriman said.

The district is in position to do so because, he said, payment of the bond is ahead of schedule. To date, $9 million of the bond has been paid for, and Herriman said payment of the 25-year debt service could be completed in "15, 16 years."

Though an opposing faction bought anonymous advertisements in a local newspaper before the bond was put on the ballot, that voice is all but silent now, Herriman said.

One of the jewels of the projects, the new junior high, is making the most noise.

The new junior high, scheduled to open in December of 2010, will replace one built in the 1940s.

The old one, because of its attractive, older look, will be kept to house administrative offices and adult education courses in the future. However, it will first host primary students as the primary school gets demolished and another one is built in its place.

The new school sits on the northern part of town, at the intersection of Northwest Avenue J and Sixth Street. With 38 classrooms — six more than the current school — it has many state-of-the art elements as well as an obvious size advantage.

It includes two gyms — one for boys, one for girls — a 1,175 square-foot art classroom, a band hall to accommodate 150 students and an athletics complex featuring eight tennis courts and a football field.

"We wanted to make sure it wasn’t too little," Herriman said.

Junior high principal Cary Moring said every staff member had input on the design of the new school. He and a few others visited schools in the Metroplex for ideas. Among the staff’s favorite features of the new school are the bigger classrooms, technology-oriented facilities and a window in every classroom.

"It’ll be a great, relaxed environment conducive to learning," Moring said.

SEMINOLE JUNIOR HIGH

>> New facility scheduled for completion in December of 2010.

>> 165,000 square feet.

>> 38 classrooms.

>> Two gyms.

>> Library with multimedia lab, computer lab, dyslexia lab, reference study room.

>> 5,800 square-foot commons area.