Stafford MSD opening new middle school, administrative facility this month (Source: Houston Chronicle)

By Roy Kent

The fruits of a voter-approved $62 million bond issue will be realized for students and staff in Stafford Municipal School District when doors finally open for the 2020-21 school year.

Approved by voters in 2017, a new middle school and administration building will open in August as students wait to return to school amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Stafford MSD will start classes for the new school year on Aug. 19 with all classes online for at least the first four weeks.

“We are thrilled with our new space,” Stafford MSD Superintendent Robert Bostic said in a news release. “We can’t wait for staff, students and the community to see the final result and enjoy the renovations of our complex in person one day soon.”

According to information from bond program manager Lockwood Andrews & Newnam, Inc. (LAN), the $26 million middle school will “accommodate 950 students in sixth, seventh and eighth grade. The three-story building, encompassing 139,360 square feet, includes 21st century classrooms, science laboratories, robotics, engineering and computer labs, band and two art rooms, fitness room, library, two gymnasiums and a cafetorium. The existing middle school was built in 1983 during the district’s inception.”