Groundbreaking for new Jacinto City Elementary

L – R: Constable Chris Diaz, Sara Montelongo-Oyervidez, Trustees Wilfred Broussard Jr, Superintendant Dr. Angi Williams, Principal Becky Gardea, Trustee Ramon Garza, Assistant Principal Cecilia Meza, Hector Morales and Linda Jamail. (Photo by Allan Jamail)
L – R: Constable Chris Diaz, Sara Montelongo-Oyervidez, Trustees Wilfred Broussard Jr, Superintendant Dr. Angi Williams, Principal Becky Gardea, Trustee Ramon Garza, Assistant Principal Cecilia Meza, Hector Morales and Linda Jamail. (Photo by Allan Jamail)

By Allan Jamail

May 29, 2019 – The Galena Park Independent School District Trustees (GPISD) is working towards the completion of the voter-approved $290 million school bond projects with the ground breaking ceremony for the soon to be built 2 story replacement school of the Jacinto City Elementary School. The $26 million new school is scheduled to be completed by the fall of 2020.

The elementary school home of the Tigers was built 75 years ago in 1944. It was a small single story building consisting of an office, small kitchen, cafeteria and several classrooms for the 200 students. As student enrollment increased the building was enlarged and renovated several times to its current size with 925 students attending.

The district has 15 elementary schools and the trustees plan to replace and build 6 new elementary schools, renovate 24 other campuses and facilities, upgrade safety and security and fully conform to the Americans with Disabilities Act district-wide with the bond funds.

ARCHITECTS RENDERING: VLK architect’s rendering of the future Jacinto City Elementary School.

The GPISD slogan, BUILDING A STRONG FOUNDATION FOR OUR FUTURE LEARNERS, was displayed on a banner which is used throughout all building projects. Souvenir jars of the actual dirt from the location where the construction workers first broke ground were given to the attendees.

Attending the event were Board of Trustees Wilfred Broussard Jr, Ramon Garza, Superintendent Dr. Angi Williams, Assistant Superintendent Terri Moore, Galena Park ISD Associate Superintendent for Operations Dr. John Moore, Director New Facilities and Planning Sonny Fletcher, Senior Director for Community Relations Sherrhonda Johnson, Coordinator of Web Services Chris Gause, Principal Becky Gardea, Assistant Principal Cecilia Meza, Administrative Aide Dina Gonzales, Hector Morales of Commissioner Adrian Garcia’s office, Constable Chris Diaz, President North Channel Area Chamber of Commerce Margie Buentello, State Senator Carol Alvarado and State Representative Ana Hernandez were in Legislative Session and were represented by Sara-Oyervidez and Linda Jamail respectively.