Sherman ISD is engaging students, parents, community members, and staff in envisioning what the district’s newest elementary schools will look like.
The 2023 bond program, approved by voters in May, includes the replacement of Crutchfield Elementary and Fairview Elementary, as well as two brand new elementary schools on new sites and a new Early Childhood Center at the site of Wakefield Elementary, among other projects.
The new Crutchfield and Fairview, as well as one of the two new elementary schools, will open for the start of the 2025-26 school year. The second new elementary school and new Early Childhood Center will welcome students for the 2026-27 school year.
Work has already begun on the first round of projects, and this summer, SISD partnered with architect VLK to gather initial input from stakeholders about the design of the elementary schools opening in 2025. View photos.
“It’s great to see this process getting off to such a fast start,” said Paul Manley, a member of the Long-Range Facilities Planning Committee and Fairview Elementary parent. “I am really excited to have been a part of this from the ground floor when it was just concepts and now being able to get into the details and help design the new building where my children will go to school.”
Three groups of stakeholders met in July to share their ideas about everything from the buildings’ exterior to the placement of key spaces, including classrooms, collaboration areas, and outdoor learning spaces.
“Sherman ISD schools represent our community, so what better way to design them than to involve the students, staff, and parents that are actually going to be utilizing them,” said Sherman ISD Superintendent Dr. Tyson Bennett. “These new campuses will help shape the surrounding neighborhoods and serve our community for many, many years to come.”
Sherman ISD staff also recently visited newly built elementary schools in other districts to see what was possible. All of the new SISD campuses will provide innovative, creative, and engaging learning experiences for students.
The district will solicit additional input and feedback from stakeholders before the school designs are finalized this fall. SISD is expected to start moving dirt at the three school locations in early 2024.
Already, field work and geotechnical surveys are underway at Crutchfield and Fairview elementary schools. The location of the elementary school opening on a new site in 2025 is still being finalized.
