Construction Updates

On May 5, 2018, 70 percent of the voters approved a $136.1 million school bond referendum for Texas City ISD.

IBI Group is the contracted architecture firm for each of the four new schools. TCISD administrators, staff and personnel attended numerous design meetings and provided IBI with all the necessary input and direction as part of the Design Committee during both the Schematic Design Phase and the Design Development Phase. Their involvement and guidance has been critical to the success of the project.

The new Hayley Elementary and Simms Elementary opened in August 2021 and Guajardo Elementary opened in January 2022. he new La Marque Middle School, which has been renamed Sarah Giles Middle School, is open for students in August 2022.

Don Pursley (e-mail)
Director of Maintenance & New Facilities

Latest Press Release

TCISD Board votes to rename LMMS as Sarah Giles Middle School

The Texas City ISD Board of Trustees voted unanimously Thursday night to rename the new La Marque Middle School currently under construction as Sarah J. Giles Middle School in honor of retired La Marque educator Sarah Giles. There were more than 1,000 submissions recommending 34 names for the renaming of the school.

Giles dedicated her career to La Marque schools as a teacher and administrator for more than 40 years. In addition, she stayed committed to her students by tutoring math in her home for over 35 years. Giles was known to love her students and to always make a difference in every life she touched. She was truly LM Cougar proud!

The school will be located at 7451 Monticello Dr., Texas City, TX 77591.

Board considering alternative names for LMMS; deadline for recommendations Sept. 1, 2021

The TCISD Board Facilities Committee has made a recommendation to consider different names for La Marque Middle School. Therefore, the Board is requesting proposals from community members regarding a name change. If you would like to suggest a name for the school, please complete the online form no later than September 1, 2021, to be considered. Email Melissa or call 409-916-0114 if you have questions.

Land purchased for new LMMS

September 17, 2020

A little more than 26 acres of land on the corner of Monticello Drive and North Vauthier has been purchased by the Texas City Independent School District for the site of the new La Marque Middle School. Construction is estimated to begin in February 2021 with occupancy for August 2022.

The Texas City ISD Board of Trustees approved spending $2.2 million on three tracts of land totaling 26.02 acres. The closing on this property will allow the district to move forward with its plan to build a new middle school for 6th, 7th and 8th grade students.

“By us acquiring this land, we can move forward with construction sooner since we will be able to build on land that is not already occupied,” says Texas City ISD Superintendent Dr. Melissa Duarte. “La Marque Middle School has been displaced since Hurricane Harvey. Our middle school students have been sharing the La Marque High School building for the past 4 school years. We are excited that they will get a brand new building to call their own.”

Trustees have also approved the design phase of the new La Marque Middle School. In addition to the new 2-story school, which is being built for 830 students, the site will have space for a competition field and track, a practice field and ample parking.

“Our new middle school is going to have an auditorium” says Duarte. “Our architects tell us that this is rare for new construction for middle schools in Texas. We are also happy with the unique feature of learning stairs. It’s a new architectural trend that provides an informal and a formal area for gathering, teaching, socializing and performing.”

Construction of a new middle school was approved on May 5, 2028, as part of a $136.1 million bond election that also included the building of three new elementary schools and district-wide improvements and initiatives such as safety and security, roofs and parking lots and technology devices for students.

The three new elementary schools are estimated for completion now in February 2020.

Construction Photos

January 2020

Guajardo Elementary

Site utilities: 30% complete
Concrete construction on the spread footings: 25% complete
Dirt work on north parking lot and a portion of bus loop has begun.

Hayley Elementary

Site utilities: 40% complete
Concrete construction on the spread footings: 99% complete
Grade beam and slab work on section A starting
Plumbing construction underground: 30% complete

Simms Elementary

Site utilities: 50% complete
Concrete construction piers: 50% complete
Plumbing construction underground: 10% complete

February 2020

Guajardo Elementary

Site utilities: 45% complete; storm 75% complete; domestic water 20% complete
Concrete construction on the spread footings: 100% complete
Grade beams: 25% complete
Dirt work on north parking lot and bus loop: 60% complete
Electrical underground: 20% complete

Hayley Elementary

Site utilities: 60% complete; storm 75% complete; domestic water 50% complete
Concrete construction on the spread footings: 100% complete
Grade beams: 20% complete
Plumbing construction underground: 30% complete

Simms Elementary

Site utilities: 75% complete
Concrete construction of the piers: 100% complete
Plumbing construction underground: 40% complete
Electrical underground complete: 65% complete

March 2020

Guajardo Elementary

Site utilities: 35% complete overall
Concrete grade beams: 90% complete overall
Earthwork: 90% complete overall
Electrical underground: 65% overall
Structural steel fabrication to be delivered April 6th

Hayley Elementary

Site utilities: 80% complete overall
Plumbing construction underground: 95% complete overall
Concrete grade beams: 90% complete overall
Structural steel fabrication to be delivered April 13th

Simms Elementary

Site utilities: 90% complete overall
Plumbing construction underground: 85% complete overall
Electrical underground: 100% complete overall
Concrete grade beams: 85% complete overall
Structural steel fabrication to be delivered April 13th

April 2020

May 2020

June 2020

July 2020

Guajardo Elementary

Sitework: 95% complete
Site utilities: 95% complete
Concrete: 85% complete
Steel: 90% complete
Construction masonry unit: 60% complete
Metal decking and lightweight concrete: 40% complete

Masonry

Exterior Classrooms

Front Parking Lot

Front Entrance

Hayley Elementary

Sitework: 95% complete
Site utilities: 95% complete
Concrete: 85% complete
Steel: 80% complete
Masonry: 15% complete
Metal decking and lightweight concrete: 15% complete

Masonry

Exterior Classrooms

Front Administration

Simms Elementary

Sitework: 95% complete
Site utilities: 95% complete
Concrete: 80% complete
Steel: 60% complete

Exterior Classrooms

Exterior Gym and Cafeteria Area

Exterior Entrance and Administration

August 2020

Guajardo Elementary

Electrical: 52% complete
Mechanical: 57% complete
Plumbing: 38% complete
Concrete: 80% complete
Earthwork: 84% complete
Site utilities/underground: 78% complete
Metal decking and lightweight concrete: 50% complete
Structural steel: 96% complete
Interior buildout: 18% complete

Cafeteria

Gym/Stage

HVAC

Interior Build Out

Hayley Elementary

Electrical: 50% complete
Mechanical: 51% complete
Plumbing: 40% complete
Concrete: 69% complete
Earthwork: 69% complete
Site utilities/underground: 90% complete
Metal decking and lightweight concrete: 48% complete
Structural steel: 95% complete
Interior buildout: 10% complete

Gym/Stage

Cafeteria

HVAC

Electrical

Simms Elementary

Electrical: 50% complete
Mechanical: 45% complete
Plumbing: 58% complete
Concrete: 73% complete
Earthwork: 80% complete
Site utilities/underground: 80% complete
Metal decking and lightweight concrete: 43% complete
Structural steel: 91% complete
Interior buildout: 3% complete

Stage form

HVAC

Plumbing

Exterior buildout

September 2020

Guajardo Elementary

Electrical: 57% complete
Mechanical: 78% complete
Plumbing: 62% complete
Concrete: 86% complete
Earthwork: 87% complete
Site utilities/underground: 93% complete
Metal decking and lightweight concrete: 89% complete
Structural steel: 99% complete
Interior buildout: 35% complete
Roofing: 47%

Cafeteria

Classroom

Main Entrance

Interior Buildout

Hayley Elementary

Electrical: 65% complete
Mechanical: 73% complete
Plumbing: 60% complete
Concrete: 75% complete
Earthwork: 69% complete
Site utilities/underground: 90% complete
Metal decking and lightweight concrete: 86% complete
Structural steel: 99% complete
Interior buildout: 29% complete
Roofing: 26%

Gym

Cafeteria

Main Hallway

Interior Buildout

Simms Elementary

Electrical: 65% complete
Mechanical: 73% complete
Plumbing: 60% complete
Concrete: 75% complete
Earthwork: 69% complete
Site utilities/underground: 90% complete
Metal decking and lightweight concrete: 86% complete
Structural steel: 99% complete
Interior buildout: 29% complete
Roofing: 26%

Cafeteria

Main Entrance

Interior Buildout

Exterior buildout

October 2020

Guajardo Elementary

Construction is 57% complete overall

Cafeteria vent hood in cooking area

HVAC

Wood blocking for cabinet area in a classroom

Hayley Elementary

Construction is 50% overall.

Interior wall ballistic panels

Copper pipes for domestic water

Exterior brick

Simms Elementary

Construction is 48% complete overall.

Gym stage

Pod Area for group lessons and presentations

Library with decking

November 2020

Guajardo Elementary on November 17, 2020

Windows in the cafeteria

Gymatorium

Classroom sheetrock

Stone work at front entrance

Hayley Elementary on November 17, 2020

Windows in the cafeteria

Library interior facing outside windows

Classroom doorway

Main entrance

Simms Elementary on November 17, 2020

Windows in the cafeteria

Roof decking

Classroom sheetrock

Main entrance

January 2021

Guajardo Elementary taken in December 2020 & January 2021

Paint is going up on the walls in the gymatorium

Classroom sheetrock

Kitchen walk-in freezer

Stone work at front entrance

Hayley Elementary taken December 2020-January 2021

Windows in the cafeteria

Setting up hot water heater

Classroom reading nook and sheetrock

Simms Elementary in December 2020-January 2021

Windows in the cafeteria

Display cases

Kitchen walk-in freezer

Front parking lot

February 2021

Guajardo Elementary on February 9, 2020

Front Entrance

Stonework in Entrance

Classrooms with Doors Installed

Stage in Gym

Hayley Elementary on February 9, 2021

Front Entrance

Ceiling in Main Entrance

Stonework in Library

Walk-in Cooler in Kitchen

Simms Elementary on February 9, 2021

Front Entrance

Cafe Serving Line

Gym

Main Hallway

La Marque Middle School Groundbreaking - February 26, 2021

Texas City ISD Board of Trustees

Board President Nakisha Paul, LMMS Principal Kanestra Bland, LMMS student Phillip Cummings and La Marque City Council members

Board President Nakisha Paul, LMMS Principal Kanestra Bland,
LMMS student Phillip Cummings, Superintendent Dr. Melissa Duarte
and Texas City City Commission

Board President Nakisha Paul, LMMS Principal Kanestra Bland,
LMMS student Phillip Cummings, Superintendent Dr. Melissa Duarte
and Citizen Facilities Advisory Committee

March 2021

Guajardo Elementary on March 9, 2021

Main Hallway in Area E

Painting in Cafe

Sheetrock in Pod Area

Stage in Gym

Hayley Elementary on March 9, 2021

Front Office Windows

Cafe Lighting Fixtures

Paint and Ceiling Grids in Classroom

Northside Bus Loop

Simms Elementary on March 9, 2021

Walkway to Back of Gym

Classroom with Sheetrock

Gym Lighting

Kindergarten and First Grade Restroom

April 2021

Guajardo Elementary on April 21, 2021

Basketball goals installed

Classroom light fixtures

Kitchen tile installed

Library courtyard

Hayley Elementary as of April 24, 2021

Classroom cabinets installed

Walkway canopy

Kitchen equipment installed

Student restroom tiled

Simms Elementary as of April 2021

Kitchen tile installed

Library seating in reading area

Millwork onsite and installed

Student restroom tile and fixtures installed

La Marque Middle School as April/May 5, 2021

Equipment onsite

Storm sewer inlet delivered

Location aerial