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Renovations and Additions to Silsbee High School

Silsbee High School: Estimated Cost: $19.5M

  • Proposition A includes HVAC Replacement, Nurse Renovation, SPED Life Skills, Cafeteria Boys’ and Girls’ Restroom addition, and Second Floor Teachers’ workroom and staff restrooms.

  • Silsbee High School was originally built in 2000 and has reached 23 years in age.

  • The current HVAC system is more than 23- years old and past its useful life. More specifically, the boiler units and controls need to be replaced in order to increase the longevity of the facility and to maintain a safe and conducive teaching and learning environment.

    • The cost of maintenance time and repairs is up to $40,000-$50,000 per year, taking money away from the classroom. New HVAC systems are energy efficient and save the district money each year.

  • Faculty restrooms would be added to the downstairs and upstairs.

  • SPED life skills classroom.

  • Nursing Office

NEW CAREER & TECHNICAL COMPLEX

Prop A will create a CTE Multi-Purpose Facility where it would house the following    career paths:

  • Agricultural Sciences:

    • Plant Science

    • Animal Science

  • Engineering

    • Which includes our Robotics Program

  • Culinary Arts

  • Health Science

    • Which includes our PCT Program

  • Career and Technical Education, or CTE, are courses of technical knowledge and skills needed to prepare students for further education and careers in current or emerging professions. 

  • Our current Career & Technical Education facilities are more than 20 years old. The lab and classroom spaces do not meet industry standards for square footage, safety features, ventilation, and storage of materials. Tools and equipment are outdated or broken. Currently, many CTE classrooms at SHS lack adequate space required for specialized programs, thus, creating safety concerns and limiting enrollment for students pursuing a specialized career pathway.  

  • The demand for jobs in Career and Technical Education (CTE) is increasing. CTE students typically graduate high school with certifications in their field and/or college credits.

  • As the District’s Early College High School (ECHS) and Dual Credit (DC) programs are growing at Silsbee High School, it is important to ensure that students have adequate facilities that support both college and career readiness programs. While many vocational opportunities currently exist for students at Silsbee high school, proximity and inadequate space currently limits the amount of student participation for programs that include nursing, floral design, audio/visual, culinary arts, and robotics.

  • As not every student is interested nor can afford to attend a 4-year college or institution vocational programs provide students practical training and certifications in a shorter amount of time that lead to career pathways and immediate job opportunities upon high school graduation. In a recent study, college enrollment rates have declined by about 1.3 million since 2020.

NEW AG BARN

  • Proposition A would include construction of a New 16-pen Ag Barn.

  • Currently, our students are limited in their learning experiences by not having access to an Ag Barn while participating in Ag Education and FFA programs at Silsbee ISD. By constructing an Ag Barn, students can be exposed to more hands-on learning opportunities in an outdoor environment while also gaining greater knowledge for the agricultural industry.

SAFETY AND SECURITY

  • Proposition A includes Entry cameras, vestibule glass walls, check-in glass and security monitors at the high school.

  • Currently, the front entrance of the Silsbee High School does not have a vestibule for a more secure entrance. As there are multiple improvements recommended for the high school, we have identified this as a Phase I priority for our students and staff.

SHS ATHLETIC UPGRADES

  • Current softball and baseball field facilities have experienced long-time drainage issues causing multiple home competitions to be canceled. Additionally, our student athletes often have no place to practice until standing water can be pumped and adequate drying time allowed. This puts our athletes at a greater disadvantage and often results in multiple games to be played within a given week that can negatively impact the balance between athletics and academics.

  • Current Tennis courts have long-time drainage issues as well, causing massive cracks, stains, and dirt buildup. 

  • The current baseball and softball field is a grass field that takes constant upkeep throughout the year. Grass upkeep is a year long expense and maintenance and athletics spends about 10 months out of the year keeping the field game ready. Current district expenses spent for field maintenance that includes everything throughout the year to make sure it is game ready is approximately $75,000 to $100,000 a year.

  • By correcting the drainage issues at the athletic complex, resurfacing the tennis courts, and installing synthetic turf on the baseball and softball fields, it would allow our programs to compete on a level playing field and could solve current problems.