When Wheat Middle School students return from the holiday break on January 5, it will be to a campus under construction.

                The first phase of the $38 million renovation and construction project for Wheat was among the facility improvement proposals approved by voters in the May 2021 bond election. When the project is complete in the summer of 2023, the campus which opened in 1991 will return to its original use as the district’s sole middle school, serving all CISD seventh and eighth graders. Building capacity will increase to serve 1,450 students.

                Phase One will involve the construction of 30 new classrooms, administrative offices and Special Education learning spaces. Phase Two will be highlighted by the construction of the new gymnasium/ storm shelter, ending with Phase Three renovations throughout the campus including science/classroom learning spaces.

Major improvements and upgrades also include the relocation of the school’s main entry, new weight room and dressing room facilities and the renovation of an existing gym into a library and media center. From theater arts to a new turf competition field, Wheat will be addressed from every angle.

                A rendering of the exterior of the school upon completion is featured on project signage posted near the campus exit onto Colonial Drive.

                Wheat parents will receive notifications from school administrators regarding the launch of the project and ongoing construction. While there will be no change to student drop off/pick up patterns, a message posted on the school marquee advises of longer wait times during these periods. Buses will now access/exit the campus off Colonial. A new bus lane has been constructed on the west side of the building.  

                Construction equipment has been on the Wheat site since early December, following groundbreaking ceremonies. Temporary fencing has also been erected signaling the start of excavation, which will be completed by the first week in January, when the drilling of piers begins.

                The entrance/exit driveway on the back side of the building will now be closed to through traffic to allow for safe passage for a percentage of students who will be accessing classroom portables during construction. One eight-classroom and three two-classroom portables, with restrooms, will be ready for occupation when school resumes for the second semester. The library is also being relocated to a two-classroom portable that until now was used for storage.