San Angelo ISD Holds Groundbreaking at McGill Elementary for Expansion, New Builds

More than 100 people joined San Angelo ISD and the San Angelo Chamber of Commerce for a special groundbreaking ceremony to officially kickoff McGill Elementary’s expansion and new builds Wednesday. Event attendees applauded as SAISD Board of Trustees, SAISD district and campus leadership, City of San Angelo Mayor and the Chamber of Commerce President turned the ceremonial first-shovel-full of dirt, commemorating the construction of McGill’s new, 34,558-square-feet facility. 

“What I think is most important today is the emphasis on students and teaching,” said City of San Angelo Mayor Brenda Gunter. “We know that all of you out there who have been a student, are a student, or will be incoming students, you represent the future of San Angelo. Today is somewhat of a celebration about the future of San Angelo.” 

As part of San Angelo ISD’s Sustainability Plan, McGill Elementary and Austin Elementary will combine, with students and staff from both elementaries being housed at McGill Elementary, including the new facility, beginning in the 2024-2025 school year. “Change is inherent,” said Dr. Carl Dethloff, San Angelo ISD Superintendent. “You can either help shape it or it will swiftly pass you by. Today, we are shaping change in our community and we are making progress for kids and I know that progress will continue into the future … We are certainly excited about this new endeavor.”

McGill Elementary’s 34,558-square-feet addition will include: 15 classrooms; a teacher work room; new student and staff restrooms; a new entry to the campus; a new cafeteria; a new pick-up/drop-off drive; and new, drought-resistant landscaping.

While speaking to the audience, Mayor Gunter reminded the audience of the school district’s and the City of San Angelo’s primary focus of educating the students of San Angelo ISD. “I also want to remind everyone of the following – regardless of whether you’re attending a school in a new facility or an old facility, it does not change our emphasis on educating,” said Mayor Gunter. “That’s our primary focus … We need to make sure that the students leave the building with the knowledge and information they have to impact their lives positively. Not everybody in this city is going to get a new school … and that doesn’t change our focus, or the school board’s focus, or any of the leadership at our school district. You are important, what you learn is important, how we teach you is important, and your involvement in that teaching and that educating of your kids is so important to us.”

The groundbreaking ceremony also featured speeches from SAISD Superintendent Dr. Carl Dethloff; SAISD Chief Financial Officer and Assistant Superintendent of Business Services Dr. Merl Brandon; and Chamber of Commerce President Walt Koenig. Other event guests included SAISD administration, faculty, students and retired teachers; community members; representatives from Lee Lewis Construction; Kona Ice of San Angelo and media. “I want to recognize the most important people,” said Dr. Dethloff, referring to the many SAISD students in attendance.

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“We love to see progress in terms of new buildings, but we want to see most importantly the progress in our kids’ education and the fact that when they walk out that door, they’ve gotten what they need to impact our economy and the world beyond San Angelo, Texas,” said Mayor Gunter. “So thank you for being here, thank you for celebrating this wonderful great addition. But no, we are still going to focus on each and every one at whatever campus you're at, on, or represent. So thank you very much.”

More about San Angelo ISD's Sustainability Plan:
Combining schools into a larger campus of 500 to 600 students is an optimum size for instructional benefit and operational efficiency. By combining Austin Elementary and McGill Elementary into one campus, SAISD is able to:

• provide students with more resources and improve educational environments and provide more support staff 
• maintain smaller student learning environments within a larger campus
• expand professional learning groups for teachers to mentor and collaborate with peers
• operation cost per student can be reduced by up to $2,000 per student
• balance student enrollment for more efficient use of school spaces
• economic efficiency