Conversion of Smith and Rhea from Elementary to Intermediate: Intermediates Set to Open Fall 2019
An Innovation and Design Committee came together in the spring of 2017 and made a recommendation to adopt a new educational model and convert Smith and Rhea elementary schools into 5th and 6th grade intermediate campuses. The Forney Learning Academy (FLA) was also selected to be renovated to house an Early Childhood Center. The three conversions have added space for an additional 1,200 students in Forney ISD. The additions at FLA, Rhea and Smith will add 1,200 additional student capacity, with 300 at FLA and 450 at each Rhea and Smith.
“With Forney ISD being one of the fastest growing districts in the State of Texas, we will need to continuously evaluate the efficient and effective use of our facilities,” Forney ISD Superintendent Dr. Justin Terry said. “Our growth has been faster than anyone expected. Demographers projected we would hit 10,800 students by the end of October 2018, but we exceeded that mark on the third day of school. Therefore, the additional capacity helps manage growth needs while supporting a great instructional model for the future. As of October 5, 2018, student enrollment had reached more than 11,110 students.”
The estimated cost to build a new elementary school, where the average capacity is 700 students, is approximately $34,285 per student. In comparison, the construction costs to add 1,200 additional capacity to Smith, Rhea, and the Forney Learning Academy costs approximately $16,667 per student, creating more than a 50 percent savings.
Forney ISD's current elementary school structure includes kindergarten through 6th grade students attending school in the same building. In Region 10, only three percent are still using the K-6 model. Almost 50 percent utilize an intermediate structure.
At the beginning of the 2019-2020 school year, the structure of nine elementary schools will change to kindergarten through 4th grade students in seven elementary schools and two of the elementary schools will re-open as intermediate schools with 5th and 6th grade students.
The two schools that will be converted to intermediate schools are Rhea Elementary and Smith Elementary. Blackburn, Claybon, Criswell, Crosby, Henderson, Johnson and Lewis will become K-4 campuses. The K-4 Dual Language Program will be housed at Criswell while 5-6 Dual Language will remain at Smith and Rhea.
Both Rhea and Smith have the exact same floor plan and both will be expanded to include 18 classrooms as well as additional opportunities for advanced academics and extracurricular programs, such as band, choir, science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics.
Forney ISD is working with our demographers to analyze the growth patterns and projections of our community. New attendance zones will be finalized December of 2018. Opportunities for feedback and public hearing will be available throughout the process for all stakeholders.
Personnel transfer plans were shared last year with all Forney staff. Teachers will have the opportunity to provide input to the transfer process. Personnel transfers will be finalized following the adoption of the new attendance zones in winter of 2018.
Forney ISD will continue to work with demographers to monitor future growth in our school district.
