Harlingen CISD approves plans to launch Travis STEM Square Academy K–8

Harlingen CISD trustees on Tuesday heard plans to create Travis STEM Square Academy, a new K–8 School of Innovation that will merge STEM Square Preparatory Academy with Travis Elementary’s STEM program and open for the next school year.

Principal Sonia Brannaburn told the board the goal is to “provide students with equitable access to high quality, interdisciplinary and experiential learning experiences” and to build a seamless K–8 STEM pathway that “places our scholars at the center of innovative and reimagined learning opportunities.”

The administration and a steering committee described why district leaders favor the K–8 model and how the district plans to run the new campus. The presentation said the campus has an approximate capacity of 500 students and that early estimates for first‑day enrollment are “maybe 450–460,” based on current applications and open‑enrollment requests. Brannaburn said the district will prioritize aligned drop‑off and pick‑up times so families with children in both upper and lower grades have convenient schedules.

Officials outlined facilities and programming changes. The existing STEM Square innovation center will be relocated to an upper‑grade classroom; the current Innovation Learning Center will become a makerspace supported by an instructional coach. The campus plan includes a new outdoor eating area, a relocated playground and sidewalk to the gym, and interior adjustments to create grade‑level “pods” (lower grades in a yellow pod, upper grades in a blue pod) to run concurrent programming without interruption.

Brannaburn announced a Project Lead The Way grant award of $13,600 to begin implementing PLTW curriculum in K–5. She said the grant will fund training for up to 24 campus staff and cover program costs for up to three years, with district leaders planning a phased rollout (upper grades first, then lower grades over three years).

On student placement and early childhood programs, the presentation said pre‑K students zoned to the new campus will attend Bowie Elementary’s full pre‑K program; parents may either drop children at Travis in the morning to be bused to Bowie or drop off directly at Bowie. After school, pre‑K students may return to Travis for after‑school programming or be transported home.

A steering‑committee roster was read into the record; members include district principals, classroom teachers and instructional staff who led planning work and staff surveys to guide curriculum and professional development. Board members asked about extracurricular eligibility and future enrollment growth; Brannaburn said existing STEM Square extracurriculars will continue and that open‑enrollment requests are still being processed.

Board members and trustees praised the plan and urged additional public engagement, including an open house and wider video outreach so families unfamiliar with the proposal can review details before the school year starts. Trustees also encouraged the administration to visit other K–8 programs for comparative lessons learned, though Brannaburn said the district has not yet conducted site visits to other K–8 campuses.

The district plans an open house before the start of the school year if construction and campus preparations are completed in time. The board did not take a vote during the presentation; the item was presented for information and to invite public and board questions.