Amarillo ISD to expand six campuses

AMARILLO – The Amarillo Independent School District board of trustees approved construction bids of $11.7 million to expand six campuses, according to Les Hoyt, assistant superintendent for administration.

The board approved construction for additional classrooms at Palo Duro High School and Emerson, Eastridge, Wills and Tradewind elementary schools. Sanborn Elementary School will receive a new cafeteria/kitchen, and the current cafeteria space will be used as classrooms.

Palo Duro will have five new classrooms, two new science laboratories and an unfinished basement in case of future growth. Tradewind and Emerson will have six new classrooms. Eastridge and Wills will have eight new classrooms.

Some work on the projects has already begun, and more is scheduled to begin within a couple of weeks. The additions should be finished by the start of the 2013-14 school year.

District enrollment has grown by nearly 2,000 students since the 2008-09 school year, according to Texas Education Agency data.