Tolar ISD School Board votes to add second portable building to elementary school

During a regularly scheduled Tolar ISD School Board meeting, the board voted 5-0 with two board members absent to add a second portable building to the elementary school.

The first portable building was added during the 2022-23 school year due to an increase in students and the need for more space.

Tolar ISD Superintendent Travis Stilwell noted the first building has met the school’s needs up until this point. The second building is expected to be added in the spring of 2024. Stilwell added that classroom space is at capacity and the addition of a portable building will allow for expansion and growth.

“We have seen steady growth over the past several years in our district,” Stilwell said. “And with the numerous housing additions in various stages of development across our community, we know it is simply a matter of time before we outgrow our current facilities. With that, we are acting proactively by adding additional classrooms.”

Tolar ISD has a long-range plan in place that calls for various building projects to address facility needs.

“The top two priorities of our long-range plan include building a new junior high campus on the 60 acres of land that we have purchased on Hilly City Highway and adding a new wing at the elementary campus,” Stilwell said.

Stilwell added the district does not have the bonding capacity to consider a bond election to meet those needs therefore portable buildings are necessary at this time.

“In the near future, it is our hope that we will reach the bonding capacity where our facility needs can be addressed in a more permanent manner. As a district, we are blessed with great teachers, students and community,” Stilwell said.  “And we believe that adding this additional classroom space allows us to continue to meet the needs of our students.”