Two HISD schools to relocate this year for renovations

Students and staff at two Houston ISD elementary schools will be relocated for the upcoming school year while their campuses undergo major renovations funded by federal pandemic relief dollars.

The district plans to temporarily relocate De Zavala and Franklin elementary students while replacing the HVAC — heating, ventilation and air conditioning — systems at the Greater East End campuses, according to HISD. Those students will spend the year learning at an annex located across the street from Austin High School at 1820 S. Lockwood Drive, roughly 3 miles from their original campuses.

“This capital project is a major renovation that requires complete access to the buildings and includes replacing the chiller as well as replacing piping for the entire campus,” the district said in a statement.

The students and personnel are expected to return to De Zavala and Franklin campuses in the fall of 2024.

In the meantime, the district will provide transportation for students to and from their home campuses, according to HISD.

HISD held two meetings in late June to discuss the building upgrades and relocation with the school communities. It’s unclear what exactly was shared with families at those meetings. De Zavala serves roughly 450 students and Franklin has 280 students, the vast majority of them Hispanic, according to state data.

The school board last month approved a contract with Prime Contractors, Inc., to complete the $6.2 million project at De Zavala and $5.9 million renovation at Franklin, according to an agenda for the June 22 meeting.

The board also approved a contract with American Mechanical Services to complete $1.2 million in HVAC repairs at Ninfa Laurenzo Early Childhood Center, although relocation of students is not required, according to the district.

All three projects, totaling no more than $13.4 million, are funded by dollars from the American Rescue Plan Act and the third round of ESSER, or Elementary and Secondary

School Emergency Relief.

The maintenance projects stem from a district-wide facilities assessment completed in 2021 that identified an urgent need to replace and repair poorly functioning HVAC systems and mechanical equipment at several campuses, according to the agenda. The repairs should improve indoor air quality at the renovated campuses.

The project predates new superintendent Mike Miles and his administration, with the prior administration seeking contractors for the project starting in early March.