NewsWest 9
MIDLAND - Big projects are in the works for Midland Schools. Freshman are expected to transition into high school but that's bringing on a fresh new batch of problems. With nowhere to put the students, school administrators have to figure out how to pack the students into a new school.
MISD has two freshman campuses and two high school campuses. The school district is now looking at changing this and moving the freshman in to high school world.
"The need to reconfigure to get our school district aligned with state standards, we need to move 9th grade up to the high school level," Midland ISD School Board President, Jay Isaacs, said.
According to school officials, this has put Midland at a disadvantage.
"State curriculum and state standards are for ninth graders to be at the high school level. Midland has been behind times 15-20 years now with a high school, those ninth graders need to be moved," Isaacs said.
Both Midland Freshman and Lee Freshman hold almost 1,000 students at each campus. So squeezing these students into Midland High would have the school busting at the seams.
"We could make Lee work with some modifications but Midland High cannot facilitate anywhere close to 900 more students," Isaacs said.
So now the school district is looking at two options: since there's not enough room to add onto Midland High. They could start from scratch by building on land they own and re-building the school or their second option would be to build a third high school.
"There are several folks in town that would like to see us keep the current Midland High School. If we do that in order to reconfigure, we would have to open up a new facility which would be a third high school," Isaacs said.
Residents NewsWest 9 spoke with seem to be on board with the new idea.
"I think it would be a great idea," Midland resident, Jeri Holder, said.
"They should build a new high school. The kids need it they need it to help with everything they are trying to get done and they need all the support that they can get," Midland resident, Minnie Newville, said.
"Too many children in school now, it seems like it's really needed," Midland resident, Mary Dunn, said.
If residents and parents don't agree with the new plan of adding a new high school, this would leave the school district looking for new solutions. But the bottom line is they want to hear from parents and residents soon.
"We will be hosting town hall meetings over the next six weeks that each of our school members will be hosting," Isaacs said.
