Photo by Kailyn Williams

Tractors move dirt during the ongoing construction of a new building for Wake Village Elementary. The construction is supported by the funding of Proposition A of the 2022 Bond.

The sound of construction machinery and an elementary school bell clash as students transition through a typical day at Wake Village Elementary. 

Using the opportunity given by the 2022 Texarkana Independent School District bond, construction is now ongoing at the Wake Village campus. Major renovations have not taken place at the Wake Village campus since 1986.

“When I go back to visit, the campus still looks the same as when I left it in 2016,” senior Kailyn Williams said. “It definitely needs an update. It is well deserved.”

The funding for the campus renovations comes from Proposition A of the 2022 bond. The updates include new security features, including fencing, cameras and impact-resistant security window film.

In addition to the security updates, the current office area will be redesigned and remodeled, and existing main building common areas and most classrooms will receive new finishes. There will be a separate, brand-new building on the west side of the school that houses pre-k, kindergarten, and first-grade classrooms. 

“It is a little sad to think that the place where I spent my childhood will look completely different within the next couple of years, and it makes me a little more emotional because I graduate this year,” Williams said. “I am really excited for the younger generation, though. With how technology is these days, they need the update to learn properly.” 

A reconfigured main entrance and extended canopy will stretch from the main entrance to the east side of the building where Tiger Learning Center is held. The district expects the construction to be completed by Aug. 2025. 

These improvements and the addition will bring all instructional areas into one building, improving security and access for all,” said Todd Marshall, TISD chief communications officer.  “They will also address the classroom size and storage needs of the campus.”