It’s halftime for projects funded by Highland Park ISD’s 2024 bond, and the district is off to a promising start.
Despite some surprises, almost all of HPISD’s summer projects are trending under budget, said assistant superintendent for business services Scott Drillette.
“We’re trying to do as much as we can, and do it right, in such a way that it’s a long-term fix,” he said.
Most remaining work will be completed in the summer of 2026. Students started this school year in buildings with many improvements, and without a few maintenance issues that caused headaches for the district last year.
Upgrades include:
Maintenance and safety
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Where the Park Cities Stay Connected.
The district dipped into its general fund in the 2024-25 school year to complete urgent repairs to the HVAC chiller piping system at the McCulloch Intermediate School/Highland Park Middle School campus. HPISD has reimbursed the fund with bond dollars.
The district has also installed a state-of-the-art security system. HPISD police chief Mark Rowden described the new system as “the best that we can get,” and said that the improvements will greatly enhance school safety.
Strategic budgeting to increase pay
Bond dollars can only be used for capital improvements. But the district has managed to free up additional money for teacher and staff salaries by making purchases that lower its operational expenses.
The district has acquired four activity vans and is slated to receive special education and extracurricular buses in the spring. It expects to save at least $750,000 in annual expenses on charter and contracted transportation services.
HPISD has also installed LED lighting at older campuses, a move that will save the district more than $100,000 annually in utility fees, as well as improve the student experience. It expects to save $1.5 million annually in operational expenditures by using bond dollars to purchase student instructional supplies and district infrastructure operational software.
Property acquisition
The district has purchased 17 of the 35 properties that it targeted for acquisition during bond planning. Expenditures so far have been slightly under budget. The district has no immediate pressure to acquire the properties and can work with owners to create favorable transactions, Drillette said.
Other improvements
It would take miniscule print to squeeze a complete list of summer upgrades into Park Cities People. Highlights include:
- The replacement of flooring and fresh paint in selected corridors and classrooms at Armstrong Elementary and Highland Park High School. The district has renovated Armstrong’s kitchen area, while a remodel of the high school’s cafeteria will begin in March.
- Upgrades to MIS/HPMS staff restrooms, the replacement of the campus’ fan coil units, and the replacement of the MIS playground landscaping with turf.
- The replacement of turf, fresh paint, and the addition of LED lighting in the Garry Weber Indoor Practice Facility. The district expects to install the facility’s wall pads before the end of September.
- The purchase of new instruments for the band and orchestra, as well as trucks, trailers, and new uniforms for the band.
Work at the MIS/HPMS field has been slowed by rainy weather, an increase in the project’s scope, the atypical size of the track, and the challenge of conditioning the soil infill on top of the parking garage area versus the soil over the remainder of the project. Work at the field is scheduled for completion in mid-November.
“We don’t want to take any shortcuts,” Drillette said. “Whatever it takes, let’s get it done, and get it right the first time.”
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