TMISD is moving forward with its delayed new junior high building after resolving a land dispute through eminent domain. Construction is set to begin in April.
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Tuloso-Midway ISD is moving ahead with construction of its new junior high school after land disputes delayed the bond-funded project. The district ultimately secured the site through an eminent domain process, clearing the way for construction to begin this spring.
Superintendent Steve VanMatre told 3NEWS the nearly $100 million-dollar facility will sit on 40 acres of land purchased for $2 million dollars. He said the search for a safe, viable location was a challenge, but one that is worth it in the end.
Patrick Hernandez, Assistant Superintendent of Operations, said school regulations and the surrounding industrial landscape left the district with few options. He showed 3NEWS around the piece of land where the new campus will sit.
“Behind us is Lindalle Bassell, the plant there. And then you’ve got another plant to the south of us,” Hernandez said. “And then you look, in the distance and you can see Flint Hills and all the refineries right there, and there’s a plane that’s going into a landing there at the airport. So really we’re confined in where we can build.”
VanMatre said the district worked extensively to avoid using eminent domain but exhausted all other options.
“It’s not the Texan thing to do for government to take land. And we tried everything humanly possible to find alternative sites,” VanMatre said.
He emphasized the decision was a last resort.
“We’re budgeting for around $83 million in construction costs and then there will be another 10 to 15 percent in what we call soft costs, which will make it close to a $100 million facility. But boy is it gonna be nice,” VanMatre said.
The new campus will house only seventh and eighth graders, a necessity, Principal Connie Tierney said, because the current middle school campus is overcrowded.
“Sixth, seventh and eighth grade we have about 920 students, which is very large for our hallways. We’ve really outgrown our space,” Tierney said.
Tierney has been closely involved in the planning process, meeting with architects to ensure the design meets the needs of both students and staff.
“The building is nice, but being able to restructure, you know, our education and the way we format everything is really gonna be most beneficial to students,” she said.
VanMatre said construction is expected to begin in April. The district plans to welcome the first classes of students to the new junior high in fall 2028.