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La Porte ISD board approves expansion of Early Childhood Center at Heritage Elementary
Summary
The La Porte ISD Board of Trustees voted unanimously May 20 to approve contracted services to expand the district’s Early Childhood Center at Heritage Elementary, increasing capacity by about 60 children and authorizing construction to meet an August 1 target.
The La Porte ISD Board of Trustees unanimously approved a contract to expand the district’s Early Childhood Center (ECC) at Heritage Elementary during its May 20 meeting, authorizing work to raise capacity from about 90 children to roughly 150.
District staff said the board approved a purchase/contracted-services authorization “not to exceed $1.75 million” as a budgeting cap; staff said the final price “is actually going to come in way lower than that” and that a trusted contractor used previously will be selected and scheduling led by the maintenance department.
Board members and parents told trustees the expansion responds to a persistent wait list and supports district employees. A district presenter said, “we're looking to expand that by about 60 to get closer to 150,” and a parent who spoke during the item said the ECC “was a huge blessing for us,” citing nurse availability and continuity during a medical emergency.
Most speakers noted the ECC gives priority to district staff children and that the program supports employee recruitment and retention. Staff said there are routinely “over 60–80 at a time on our waiting list” and that the expansion will add classrooms for infants, toddlers and 3‑year‑olds (the presenter described a toddler room designed to support toilet training).
The motion to approve the contracted services was moved and seconded; the vote was recorded as unanimous. Staff said, if approved, they would finalize quotes and begin demolition and construction work with a goal to complete necessary work by Aug. 1 so the expanded rooms are available for the next school year.
Details captured in the record: - Current ECC enrollment: about 90 children; planned increase: about 60, target capacity ≈150. - Project budget cap presented to the board: not to exceed $1.75 million (staff said final cost expected to be lower). - Waiting list: described by staff as roughly 60–80 children at a time; priority given to teachers’ children. - Timeline: staff targeted Aug. 1 for construction completion and said they will finalize quotes and scheduling immediately following board approval.
The board’s approval authorizes staff to move forward with contracting and construction planning; staff will return with final quotes and construction schedules as work proceeds.
