SAISD Votes to Demolish Old School

A few historical sections of a local school will soon be abated and demolished in San Angelo, beginning with the removal of asbestos from certain parts of the buildings.

Board members of the San Angelo Independent School District (SAISD) motioned to approve the abatement and demolition of the old Lincoln Middle School at Monday’s school board meeting. 

Steve Van Hoozer, Director of Bond Planning and Construction, said, “[the demolition] includes from the 1910 version on the north end of the building, the 1928 portion, the 1938 portion and the 1952 portion of that building.”

This section of the school includes parts that were damaged by a tornado in May of 1953.

Van Hoozer said, “We will leave the buildings that were built in the ‘90s.”

Along with that a metal band hall, the cafeteria that was built in the ‘80s and a gym built in the early ‘60s will also remain.

Five bids were offered for the project. AAR, Inc. was chosen for the job with a total cost of $407,590 for the abatement, contingency, and demolition of the old Lincoln campus. The cost also includes the demolition of Blackshear portable.

“This is a project that has been on the books for a significant amount of time,” board member Bill Dendle said.

Board President Lanny Layman said, “I think this is something that will be really appreciated in the neighborhood and will obviously result in having a safer area, not only in the neighborhood, but for students too.”

The project is scheduled to begin Jan. 13.

Van Hoozer also gave an update on the School Bond 2008. According to SAID, “The bond proposal designates $117 million in school bonds to pay for work at Holiman, Bradford, Reagan, Glenmore, San Jacinto, Santa Rita, Crockett and Goliad elementary schools, Lee Middle School, and Central and Lake View high schools.”

Van Hoozer said that Central, Glenmore, Bradford, Reagan, and Lake View are the only projects remaining to be completed.

The school board also the lease and resolution concerning the district’s facilities use agreement with MHMR.

According to SAISD, “MHMR of the Concho Valley has obtained grant funding in order to establish and operate an Autism Treatment Program which will provide services to students with disabilities residing in Coke, Concho, Crockett, Irion, Reagan, Sterling and Tom Green Counties.”

MHMR will use the San Jacinto Clinic for the Autism Treatment Program. The location was previously a school-based clinic where nursing and social work students from ASU obtained training experience.

Dr. Carol Ann Bonds, Superintendent of SAISD, said, “For the first year or two it will just be students from SAISD...after that the grant that MHMR has received for several years will open the doors.

“Once they get this new clinic and the running of it efficient, they will open it up to autistic children from surrounding counties…they will not pay rent like someone from the outside."

MHMR will pay a "very small amount" so that the children are ablet get services at a reduced cost.

An approval for new vehicles for transportation was also made at the meeting. By law the district is not allowed to buy new charter buses. Therefore, the district will purchase two used Van Hool Coaches from ABC Texas Bus Sales for a total cost of $462,800.

For more information about the San Angelo School District visit saisd.org