Grandview Hills Elementary in LISD - new info (Spring, Leander: environment, zoned)

[gigi927]

I know a few folks were asking about the Grandview Hills area (I think masalamama and a few others) and I just read some new info about the Grandview Hills Elementary in LISD that is opening up in the fall I wanted to share.

The LISD board voted to apply to make the campus an IB (International Baccalaureate) Charter School. There are only 14 elementary level IB schools in the entire state of Texas, so it's a great thing for the school. Leander High School is IB. IB program is apparently very challenging to get brought to a school and the process takes 3 years.

Anyway, I am guessing that in part the board voted to have this particular elementary apply for the program because of all of the attendance zone and health controversies that have surrounded this particular school. But, regardless of intent, it's great for the district!

Hope this helps someone!

[neddy]

Since we are looking into going to LISD what health issues are there with that school?

Thanks

[gigi927]

Well, that elementary is on the grounds of the former SASOL plant, which was a chemical company. They plan to actually utilize the existing building there and re-tool it for elementary needs. The district has conducted numerous environmental tests which they say show that while there are some dangerous chemicals in trace quanitities, the site is perfectly safe for a school. Parents and other environmentalists are saying further testing is needed. So it's a big controversy! Here's a link from the Statesman on the latest and greatest news over it.

http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/03/27/27chemical.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=52 (broken link)

[Lin725]

Any news on the school?

[gigi927]

The school is not opening until at least Spring Break but probably not until next year. They are working on mold remediation on some of the outer walls and the chemical issue has resurfaced again. Parents and the school are meeting over the next few weeks about it. In the meantime students zoned for GVH will be attending River Place Elementary in a "campus within a campus" plan where the GVH students will have their own wing of the school and will basically operate as a separate school using portables and one wing of RPE - only the library~cafeteria~gym will be shared.