Cleveland ISD selects Houston-based LAN to manage $198M bond (Source: Houston Chronicle)

By Savannah Mehrtens

Cleveland ISD selected Lockwood, Andrews & Newnam, Inc., who’s recent work includes C.E. King High School in Sheldon ISD, as the program manager for its $198 million voter-approved bond program.

Voters within Cleveland ISD’s boundaries were 50.4% in favor of the school bond on Nov. 5. The money will help the district in supporting new infrastructure for one of the fastest-growing school districts in the state. In the last school year there was a 17.3% growth rate, or about 1,000 new students, which led to the school district spending $3 million on portable buildings, district officials said.

The district predicts a 20-24% growth rate by May of 2020, bringing Cleveland ISD’s student population to at least 8,300 students.

“On behalf of all the students, teachers and staff in Cleveland ISD, I want to thank the communities of Cleveland ISD for their approval of the CISD November 2019 Bond,” Cleveland ISD Superintendent of Schools Chris Trotter said in a press release after the election. “The district will begin work on projects that will help the district address overcrowding, accommodate fast growth, and provide every student a great place to grow and learn.”

The bond will be supported with new tax dollars from real estate developments, including the new Grand Oaks Reserve. Up to 1,000 new homes can be expected in Cleveland with this development.

JP Grom, LAN Vice President and Business Group Director, said they will be taking lessons they learned from their work with Sheldon ISD to this project.