Proposition A

• – Saginaw Elementary is currently the oldest school building in the district and has a long legacy that dates to the late 19th Century. 
• – The first Saginaw School opened as a tuition school on McLeroy Boulevard in 1892 and became a public school in 1893. In 1913, land in a new location on McLeroy was donated and a new two-story brick schoolhouse was built. That building was then replaced in 1935-1937 with a new structure funded through the Works Progress Administration (WPA). Since the WPA era, several renovations have occurred, including an addition to the building in 1965 and significant structural and materials upgrades in the gymnasium.  
• – The WPA building does have a subject marker from the Texas Historical Commission sharing the school’s history, but it is not an official registered historical site protected by preservation requirements. 
• – EMS ISD leaders recognize and respect the historical significance of Saginaw ES in our community. Intentional efforts would be made to honor and acknowledge the school’s history within the new design, for instance keeping elements such as the original school bell that exist on the property today. Additionally, EMS ISD leaders desire to maintain the original WPA-era classrooms and auditorium, barring any unforeseen conditions such as the impact of current building codes, management of storm water drainage, etc. 
• – Through the design process, district officials would work to preserve the history of the building while also providing a safe, functional, and efficient learning environment that meets today’s educational standards.
• – The proposed replacement Saginaw Elementary would be built on the existing site, and enrollment growth would be accommodated with a two-story school and site development to support traffic flow. 
• – If Proposition A is approved, design work would begin in 2029. 
• – Renovation of buildings of this age quite often have significant issues that must be addressed, and it is important that the district takes time to thoroughly inspect and determine the scope of work, and to assess the total impact to taxpayers before committing to the final design. 
• – Community input would be invited and important in the design process of the replacement building.

• – Grades 6-8
• – Will be built on the site of the former EMS Administration Building property and use portions of the existing school site.
• – Work begins Spring 2024, target open date fall 2025

• – This will be the district’s seventh middle school campus serving grades 6-8. 
• – The location is slated for the northern part of the district that is experiencing high growth currently and projected into the future.
• – The design will be similar to those of Marine Creek MS and the proposed rebuild of Wayside MS.

• – This will be the district’s 19th elementary school campus serving grades PreK-5.
• – The location is slated for the northern part of the district that is experiencing high growth currently and projected into the future.
• – The design will be similar to that of Hatley ES, which opened in August 2023.

• – Watson HS is an application-based choice high school for students enrolled in EMS ISD. It serves students in grades 9-12 who need to recover academic credits or who have home/work situations that need more flexibility than a comprehensive high school environment.
• – Separate from Watson HS is the district’s state-required Alternative Discipline Center. Students attend ADC for defined time periods as part of disciplinary consequences outlined in the Student Code of Conduct. Students in ADC do not have access to the Watson HS portion of the building.
• – The building has capacity to serve 205 students.
• – The proposed building addition encompasses up to four new classrooms and expansion of the lunch room area for students and staff.

• – The Agricultural Sciences facility is part of the district’s dedicated programming for Career and Technology Education.
• – The CTE instructional track is called Agriculture Food & Natural Resources, which includes Advanced Animal Science, Veterinary Medicine 1 and 2, and a practicum program. Students in this track can earn certification as a Certified Veterinarian Assistant and, new in 2023-2024, a certification in Veterinary Medical Applications.
• – The Agricultural Sciences facility serves as the hub for all student animal projects. Students learn how to raise and care for their animals and prepare for stock shows, where they participate with their animals several times per year. The facility also is an instructional space for the Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine programs, and all FFA (Future Farmers of America) activities including meetings, training and events.
• – Student interest in the district’s agricultural science programs is growing; current total enrollment in EMS ISD ag programs is 1135 students, compared to 1058 in 2022-2023.
• – FFA membership last year was 83 students and all had animal projects. (FFA enrollment for current year won’t be complete until mid-late September)
• – Current ag facility was built in the 1970s and has had minimal upgrades:
  • – Has 70 animal pens able to accommodate sheep, goats and hogs. In 2022-2023, 68 student-owned animals were housed on site and for 2023-2024, program leaders anticipate housing close to 60 student-owned animals at the current facility.
  • – Other animals such as steers, heifers, rabbits or chickens are used in the program but are not able to be housed in the district facility.
  • – Animals are doubled-up in the pens due to lack of adequate space to appropriately care for the animals.
  • – The current building is located on land at the Wendy Ryon complex that is leased from the Trinity River Water District and not convenient to any other district facilities. The district has added safety features including lighting, fencing, locks, etc., but the remote location continues to be a safety concern.
  • – A new facility would be relocated to a new site on district-owned land that is a more secure and accessible location for students, staff and families.

The proposed bond will provide locations for a future elementary site in the northern portion of district as well as future facilities as needed to support projected growth.