WICHITA FALLS, Texas (KAUZ) - Henrietta has broken ground on a new high school, the result of the 2024 passing of two bonds totaling $36 million.

“I think we’re gonna be pretty unique in this area,” Henrietta ISD Superintendent Jaime Clark said.

Clark said since arriving a little over a year ago, focus had shifted to going all-out with a new high school instead of just a new elementary school.

“At the time when I got here, it was looking like it was going to be a new elementary school, but after taking the facility committee out, doing some walks and looking at the needs of the whole district, then they get we kind of shifted the mindset a little to a new high school,” Clark said.

A district survey as part of the potential construction planning process revealed the junior high building was the oldest building, dating back to 1928.

“We went out and really we’re excited that after our facility committee, our leadership team, our school board, just everybody worked really hard to look at all the needs, talk, talk through it with the district and then talk through it with the Community and pass that bond. So the new High School is what we will go with. And our Junior High is going to move into our current high school facility,” Clark said.

The district will be improving both educational facilities and sports facilities.

A $1 million bond will provide for new football turf and a resurfaced track.

“It’s really awesome, it’s a really good track and we just wanna do what’s best for our kids,” Clark said, adding, “And so when you look at this facility in the front, it’s a new high school. But then when you turn around and look at the other side of it, it’s also a press box that will be able to have a football games and you can see it from. Side of what it looks like from the stadium. And then the inside has some large gathering space. There’s not a lot of facilities here in Henrietta for us to have, you know, banquets or large events for our community. And so this building will also be able to do.”

Construction on the project is expected to conclude next year in July.