TYLER (KYTX) -- While most kids are holding on to the final days of summer, hundreds of Tyler middle school students and teachers are ready to return to class. Tyler ISD's three new middle schools funded by the 2013 bond will open for the 2015-2016 school year. Hundreds gathered Sunday for the grand opening of Boulter Middle School.
Kaniesha Beal can’t wait to start her seventh grade year in a brand new school.
“It's beautiful!” Beal exclaimed. “It's really big. It's way bigger than the old school. It's like a college almost.”
The new building replaces a 57-year-old structure that crews tore down at the end of last school year and brings 7,000 square feet of extra space with it. The campus is equipped with the latest technology for teachers and students, including interactive projectors in each classroom.
“We have Wi-Fi throughout the building, interactive spaces in the halls so teachers can come out of the conventional classroom and challenge the students in different concepts,” said Rodney Curry, principal of Boulter Middle School.
Administrators expect about 800 students will walk through the school’s front door on the first day. That is about 200 more students than attended Boulter last year.
“In the past three years I've been here we've seen enrollment steadily increase,” said Curry. “So we're just continuing to look forward to getting bigger.”
With a capacity of more than 1,000 students, Curry said Boulter is ready for growth as more people move into the district.
Last week, CBS 19 took you inside Moore Middle School. Tyler ISD will host a ribbon-cutting for that campus Monday, August 17 at 5:30 p.m.
Three Lakes Middle School will have its grand opening at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, August 18.
