The Hempstead Independent School District Board of Trustees unanimously adopted the comprehensive Long-Range Facility Plan that will shape the future of education in the district for years to come, at the November 13 board meeting.
The Long-Range Facility Plan aligns with the Hempstead ISD five-year strategic plan Learning & Leading to Higher Heights. The strategic plan, developed by the Hempstead ISD community during the 2022-2023 school year, focuses on academics, instruction, social emotional learning, and the alignment of infrastructure and resources to increase student achievement and to prepare students for both now and in the future.
The newly adopted Long-Range Facility Plan reflects the district's commitment to providing a safe and inclusive learning environment that will cultivate confident learners and leaders who excel in all endeavors. The District began the long-range facility planning process last Fall. The Board of Trustees selected the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) to complete a comprehensive educational facilities assessment to review each district facility.
Once the assessment was completed the Board charged District administrators to create a Long Range Facility Planning Committee. The committee included students, teachers, staff, parents, local elected officials, business leaders, alumni, clergy, and community members. The committee met over four months to review the district facilities assessment, hear from district leaders, create a long-range facility vision and guiding principles, tour district facilities, and identify top priorities from the facility assessment.
The committee created the following vision statement and guiding principles to guide their work.
Long-Range Facility Planning Committee Vision:
Hempstead ISD is committed to building safe, secure, innovative, cost-effective, and welcoming facilities that empower our students to excel in a rapidly evolving world.
Long-Range Facility Planning Committee Guiding Principles:
Improve Existing Facilities
Provide a Safe and Secure Learning Environment for Students and Staff
Provide Welcoming and Innovative Facilities
On October 16, the LRFPC presented its recommendation to the Board. After the board meeting, the Board of Trustees reviewed the list of recommendations from the committee and met with TASB facilitators to review the recommendations and tour district facilities. The final Long-Range Facility Plan includes the improvement of facilities across Hempstead ISD. Key highlights of the Long-Range Facility Plan include:
Updates to Existing Facilities: The plan allocates resources to upgrade existing school buildings, ensuring they meet the highest standards for safety and mechanical infrastructure at each campus. This will create an enhanced learning environment for students and staff.
Highlights Include:
HVAC replacements districtwide
Facility Upgrades districtwide
New Construction/Renovations Projects: The plan includes the construction of new facilities to accommodate safety and security updates that will enable the district to continue offering a high-quality education.
Highlights Include:
Replacement Campus for Hempstead Early Childhood Center
Renovation of all athletic fields
Additions to existing Hempstead Middle School and High School
Enhanced Safety Measures: Safety is a top priority, and the plan includes measures to improve security and safety in all school buildings. These measures will ensure that students and staff feel secure while on campus.
Highlights Include:
Replace Running Surface on Track
Provide Enclosed Connectors at HES, HMS, and HHS
Security Vestibule Addition at HMS
Superintendent Herbert O’Neil expressed his enthusiasm about the board's decision.
“The adoption of the Long-Range Facility Plan is a significant step forward in our mission to provide the best possible educational experience for our students," Superintendent O’Neil said. “Our students deserve to learn in safe and functional buildings that allow them to attain their maximum potential so that they are prepared for success in college, career, military and life.”
The complete Long-Range Facility Plan can be found at hempsteadisd.org/lrfp. For more information about the Hempstead ISD Long-Range Facility Plan and upcoming community engagement events, please visit the district's website at hempsteadisd.org/lrfp.