School district investing in athletic facilities, campus improvements without bond debt

Construction continues on a major expansion and renovation of Whitewright ISD’s athletic field house, the latest in a series of campus improvement projects district officials say are positioning the school system for future growth while avoiding a bond election.

The project will nearly double the functionality of the district’s existing field house at Tiger Stadium by expanding locker room space and significantly increasing the size of the weight room. 

Assistant Superintendent Chad Long said the improvements are designed to meet the needs of current student-athletes while preparing for future enrollment increases.

“We’re enlarging the existing locker rooms in anticipation of future growth of the program,” Long said. “The existing weight room was extremely small, so with the new addition, it’s going to open up opportunities for a bigger weight room and bigger opportunities for our kids, boys and girls.”

Rather than replacing the existing building, the district is constructing an addition and renovating the original structure, which has served the athletic program for more than a decade. Once completed, the entire complex will total approximately 16,000 square feet.

Although Whitewright ISD is not currently experiencing rapid enrollment growth, Long said district leaders believe growth is inevitable as surrounding communities continue to expand.

“We’re currently not seeing big numbers in terms of student enrollment,” he said. “We do accept transfers, and when we look around the surrounding communities with the way they’re growing, we’re going to get more kids eventually. We just don’t know when that’ll be.”

The project is being funded without taxpayer-approved bond debt.

Long credited Superintendent Brian Garner and the school board with building the district’s general fund balance over the past several years, allowing major capital improvements to be completed with existing funds.

“The board met a few years ago and put together a list of projects,” Long said. “They’ve already completed renovations to the softball fields and baseball fields, and the board felt like the field house would be the next project.”

The field house renovation carries a contract value of approximately $2.8 million and is being paid from the district’s general fund balance.

Construction is expected to continue through the fall, with completion anticipated around January, weather permitting. In the meantime, student-athletes and coaches are using temporary accommodations while work is underway.

The field house project is one piece of a broader effort to modernize district facilities.

Last year, Whitewright ISD installed new flooring throughout the elementary campus and repainted the building. This summer, similar renovations are underway at the middle school, including new flooring and fresh paint. The district has also upgraded the elementary kitchen, which serves both the elementary and middle school campuses.

Looking ahead, Long said district leaders hope to renovate flooring at the high school next year if finances allow.

“We’re just kind of chipping away at it as we can,” Long said.

With construction projects progressing and preparations underway for the 2026-27 school year, Long said the district is optimistic about what lies ahead.

“We’re excited to get ready for another year and bring the kids and staff back,” he said. “We’re extremely proud of our academics and the hard work our staff puts in. It’s going to be another good year.”

In addition to campus improvements, Whitewright’s athletic programs will compete in a new football district this fall, giving Tiger fans a new slate of opponents as the school year begins.