State of NISD

Navasota Superintendent Dr. Stu Musick spoke about two distinct construction projects that are ongoing at Navasota ISD.

One construction project is part of the $55 million bond project that was passed in November 2017, and the other is the $4.3 million Maintenance Tax Note that was passed in August 2019 to upgrade athletic facilities.

Bond Update

“The two highest reasons a bond fails usually has something to do with athletics or the administration building,” stated Musick. “When we went out for our bond in 2017, there was almost nothing in that bond that had to do with athletics and there was absolutely nothing in that bond that had to do with the administration building.”

Musick said there were a lot of areas that needed to be addressed in that bond. “Since we passed the bond to where we are now, we are probably at about the halfway point of completion,” said Musick. Phase 1 has been completed and was a total remodel of the Navasota Education Learning Center (NELC) campus on Stacey Street.

The NELC campus houses four different programs- Disciplinary Alternative Education Program (DAEP), Bizzell Academy (Academic Alternative Campus), Head Start and the newest program, Lil’ Rattler Academy (day care service for faculty).

“In our bond project we are now in Phase 2 which involves projects exclusively at Navasota High School and Navasota Junior High,” said Musick. “Of the $55 million project $31 million of that is in Phase 2 which is going on now. If you’ve been around the high school and junior high campuses it is a mess right now and is a construction project. We went into this knowing it was going to be a mess, but it is going to be really nice when it’s complete.”

At the high school the new roof is approximately 95% complete. Also included in Phase 2 at the high school is a new HVAC system with chillers and boilers, new science wing, new Career Tech Education Wing, and new Fine Arts Classroom. Additionally, there will be a classroom and cafeteria remodel.

“The opportunities we have in our CTE program are really exciting,” explained Musick. “It provides different opportunities for students that no matter what they are interested in or what they plan to do after graduation, there will be choices, opportunities and certification programs that prepare students to walk into a business or college.”

The Ag building behind the high school was completely renovated and opened in August. Some of the programs the building houses are Veterinary Medicine, Auto Tech, and Ag complete with a new paint booth.

A cosmetology lab is also undergoing construction and is anticipated to open for the 2020-2021 school year.

Junior High portions of the bond project include a new roof, new HVAC Chillers and Boilers, new Science Classrooms, new Choir and KickStart Rooms as well as additional classroom remodels.

Athletic Facilities update

“These are things that are not included in the bond project,” stressed Musick. He said they as a district know the importance of maintaining facilities and there are several areas not included in the bond project that need attention as well.

Musick said they were offered a great interest rate on a short-term maintenance tax note and upgrading athletic facilities and the school board decided it was time to address athletic facilities.

Musick said there are several areas of concern that needed immediate attention. Some of those areas include Rattler Gym which had substantial damage to the floor due to water intrusion. The baseball and softball fields each hold vast amounts of water in the dugouts, the track is unusable for meets and poses safety concerns and the turf on the football field has extended beyond its life.

As part of Phase 2 of the bond, the tennis courts had to be demolished. The maintenance note will also provide a new home for the tennis program by way of an eight-court tennis facility with seating and lights.

Other key repairs include new turf and track at Rattler Stadium, gym floors at the high school and turf on the baseball and softball fields.

There are several other projects associated with the Maintenance Tax Note.

To follow the progress of the Maintenance Tax Note as well as the Bond project visit www.navasotaisd.org.