One of the big draws when we bought in the Hollywood Heights neighborhood in Dallas was the school district. You see, just south of Lakewood, Hollywood Heights is zoned for the coveted Lakewood Elementary. We knew this was a great resource if we had kids and would help the property hold or increase in value (my fingers are crossed for increasing). Since we now have a child but she is only 3 months old, I didn’t know much about Lakewood Elementary or even DISD.
At a Hollywood Heights Santa Monica Neighborhood Association Meeting, I heard a few speakers from the Lakewood Elementary PTA discussing their capital campaign to update and expand Lakewood Elementary as it was growing beyond capacity; it was built in 1951 to accommodate 350 students.
Additions to the school in the past have expanded capacity to 600; however, enrollment is close to 840 students today and a projected 900 students could attend the next school year. That’s tight quarters for learning, with serious safety and security issues arising. Those amazing, dedicated parents I heard speaking have already raised more than $300,000 for expansion plans that would meet the needs of future generations through the community-driven Lakewood Elementary Expansion Foundation (LEEF) capital campaign.
It was announced last night that DISD is proposing a bridge plan that would meet the most pressing needs at nine DISD campuses, including Lakewood Elementary. “If the bridge plan is approved by the Board of Trustees in late March, improvement plans for facilities could begin this spring. That’s earlier than activity tied to the proposed $1.5 billion bond package, which would be voted on no earlier than November.” In addition to Lakewood Elementary, the list includes Stonewall Jackson, B.H. Macon Elementary, Nathan Adams Elementary, Tom Field Elementary, Seagoville Elementary, Edward Titche Elementary, W.E. Greiner Elementary, and W.T. White High School.
If the $137 million bridge plan passes this spring, Lakewood Elementary would receive $12 million to address its overcrowding and renovations needs. Stonewall Jackson, over on Mockingbird Lane near Greenville Avenue, stands to receive $5 million.
Parents plan to address the trustees again on March 5. The bridge plan will likely not go to vote until March 26th, a DISD spokesperson said. Stay tuned…
