There will be 12 newly remodeled classrooms at Hardwick Elementary, air conditioning in the gymnasiums of five junior high schools, and relocated portable buildings when students return to school August 17. The summer activity marked the beginning of construction in the 29.9 million dollar bond program approved by Lubbock voters last January.

Byron Martin, bond project manager for LISD, says Hardwick students who departed their school last year with its open concept configuration will find the more traditional enclosed classroom atmosphere this school year. Martin is pleased with the initial construction efforts this summer and says, "Hardwick was the first project undertaken and it represents a good beginning to our construction program because it will be finished on time before the students return."

The summer was also used to prepare a number of campuses scheduled for construction projects. Portable buildings were moved at Irons and Slaton Junior High Schools and Brown, Parsons, Wester and Murfee Elementary Schools. Those campuses will see construction begin on additions to their facilities soon after school gets underway. Brown will be getting eight new classrooms as will Parsons and Bayless. Slaton Junior High will see a 15-classroom addition, seven of which will be constructed in an area which formerly housed vocational training programs. Evans Junior High will be getting 14 new classrooms, six of which will be constructed in a former pre- employment vocational education laboratory area. Martin explained that portable classes had to be relocated on the campuses because they were on sites where the additions were going to be constructed. Martin explained, "Portable buildings understandably were located for student convenience close to the main building. That is where the additions will be placed so the portables had to be moved."

Martin feels the toughest projects to be undertaken this fall will be additions to J.T. Hutchinson and O.L. Slaton Junior High Schools. At Hutchinson the old tennis courts are located where a new addition is to be constructed and those will have to be torn out. Additionally, Hutchinson construction will involve the installation of an elevator. At Slaton, all the portable buildings had to be relocated to make room for new construction.

As for student safety this school year, Martin indicated principals will be going through safety programs with students whose schools will have construction underway this school year and contractors will talk safety with their crews before the school year begins. Martin says students will have to be alert when walking through some areas of their campuses, "We will have six-foot high chain-link fences around all the construction areas; however, there will still be a need for workers and students to be alert in areas which are used for coming and going from the construction sites."

Concerning possible disruption during school hours, Martin feels that will not be a problem because the "noisy, dusty" work is being scheduled when the students are not on campus. Also, most of the work will be on additions away from classroom areas.

The construction of additional classroom space represents phase one of what is expected to be a three-year bond construction program. Phase two will involve construction of a new Natatorium (swimming complex) and other athletic facilities including eight new Lubbock High School tennis courts and viewing area. The former Carrol Thompson school site (1400 Avenue T) was recently purchased as a location for the Natatorium and tennis facilities. Phase three will involve renovation and an addition to the central office complex and the possible construction of a new elementary school in northwest Lubbock.

As construction with the 1994 Bond Program moves forward, Martin feels it is going much smoother that the 1989 Bond Program. "This time I was involved in the early planning and I have a better feel for where we are headed. In 1989, we started the program by air conditioning 27 elementary schools which all had to be done in one summer and it got pretty hectic."

Martin laughs when he tells how many times he has been quizzed by the public concerning bond construction this summer. "They always ask, `Are you going to have all that new construction finished by September?` I tell them no, this is a three-year program, but if we remain on schedule, I hope all the classroom additions will be finished by November of 1996, and the entire program in the history books by September 1997."