LONGVIEW, Texas — Longview ISD board trustees on Monday selected the site for the district's new Early Childhood Center, a project being funded through the $456 million bond approved in May.
The early childhood center is set to be built on the former Jodie McClure Elementary School property, located off of Melba Street in the south part of Longview. The former school was built in 1956, but it was demolished in 2010 after school leaders found renovations would cost too much.
Discussions about putting the Early Childhood Learning Center at the Jodie McClure property began in May 2022, Dr. Wayne Guidry, LISD assistant superintendent of finance, said.
"This property has sufficient space for the Early Childhood Learning Center, and the administration recommends that site," he said. "Of course, we will work with the architects to determine the precise layout and location of the property, but our preliminary plan is for the campus entry to face the intersection of Estes Parkway and Mobberly Avenue."
Superintendent Dr. Marla Sheppard said the land itself will need to be surveyed to assess any potential environmental concerns and to determine the best layout of facilities on the property.
According to the district, the addition of the new center will alleviate waiting lists for the Early Head Start and Head Start programs, which help low-income families with tuition paid for by a federal grant.
Proposition B of the 2024 bond will fund the new larger Playing For Keeps/Early Childhood Center with 30 classrooms, a library, a kitchen and a gymnasium. This will replace the current overcrowded facility and clear a waiting list of around 75 students.
The current PFK Early Childhood Center building, located on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, will be renovated into office space for the district's technology and special education departments after those programs relocate.