New school will relieve Prairie View Elementary

Published Thursday, May 1, 2008

By Mandy Bourgeois

Prairie View Elementary will see some relief in its growing enrollment with the opening of Sendera Ranch Elementary in August.

The Northwest ISD School Board voted to use the Sendera Ranch development's boundaries as the boundary for a new elementary school. Sendera Ranch, located in Fort Worth, just off Farm Road 718 and between U.S. 81/287 and FM 156, is currently in Prairie View Elementary's attendance boundary. In August, the school will open with 535 students, with enrollment reaching 625 students for the 2009-2010 school year.

Sendera Ranch will feed Chisholm Trail Middle School.

The school board also approved the attendance boundary for O.A. Peterson Elementary located in the Tehama Ridge subdivision near the intersection of U.S. 81/287 and I-35.

The attendance zone for Peterson Elementary will include the Tehama Ridge, Presidio, Harmon Ranch, Reatta Ranch and Willow Ridge developments. These areas were previously zoned in Nance Elementary's attendance boundary.

"This is one of the fastest growing areas in the district," said Dennis McCreary, assistant superintendent for facilities, planning and construction. "It's a prime spot for new home sales."

Peterson is expected to open with an enrollment of 225. Peterson will be in the Chisholm Trail Middle School attendance zone until August 2009 when the district's fourth middle school opens. Peterson students will promote into the fourth middle school, which will feed Byron Nelson High School.

The school board voted to change the attendance boundaries for Lakeview Elementary and Beck Elementary, located in the eastern portion of the district. The change will add a Trophy Club development to Lakeview Elementary and in turn, slow Beck Elementary's growth.

New high school principal named

The board named Linda Parker the principal of Byron Nelson High School, scheduled to open in August 2009. Parker is the associate principal at Northwest High School and will take her new post July 1.

"Linda's knowledge of our district and her understanding of our students' needs make her the ideal principal for our new high school," said superintendent Dr. Karen Rue. "She has a solid grasp on new initiatives and can lead a seamless transition of our programs at a new campus."

Parker is a Boyd resident and the wife of Boyd High School girls basketball coach Arnold Parker.

Another land purchase

The board approved the purchase of 22.5 acres in the Harriet Creek Development, located at State 114 and Harriet Creek Boulevard in Fort Worth, for $1,150,000.

The purchase follows a feasibility study that deemed the land appropriate for the district's 14th elementary school, which will relieve Hatfield Elementary.

In other business, the district:

- Recognized outgoing board member Lynn Gamron for her service.

"I'd like to say how valuable Lynn has been," said board president Davis Palmer. "We've transitioned a lot on the board. She has gone through three superintendents and three superintendent searches. It's been a pleasure to serve with you and make things happen in this district."

"Over the past nine years I've seen several board trustees, staff, superintendents and teachers come and go. There has been one constant in this district, and that is the passion that all these people have for educating our children," Gamron said. "It makes it difficult to leave, but I know that I am leaving it in good hands. I have a lot of respect for these folks up here. I feel blessed to be a part of Northwest ISD, and I will always be a part of it."

- Discussed a contract extension through 2013 with Keller ISD for the use of the district's swim center for Northwest's swim team practices. The estimated price tag is $120,735.50. McCreary said the extension would provide time for Northwest to find a municipal partner and build a swim center.

- Heard a presentation on the district's long-range technology plan.

- Approved the TASB localized policy update 82 and NISD local policy update.