PHOTO: A report from Parkhill estimates major repairs to San Jacinto Elementary could cost more than $7 million in the short term. (SAISD)
The San Angelo Independent School District Board of Trustees were informed of the need to close San Jacinto Elementary, along with Reagan and Bowie elementary schools, by the 2027 school year, during a pre-agenda workshop held Monday, Jan. 13.
The most recent facilities report for San Jacinto, obtained from the District, sheds more light on major structural damage at the school, which has been attributed to earthquake activity.
According to the assessment, produced by the Parkhill architecture and engineering firm, the damage at San Jacinto would be difficult to repair.
The report begins with an overview of the main building.
“San Jacinto… was initially constructed in 1909,” the report says. “The cafeteria addition was made in 1950, and multiple small classroom buildings were completed in the late 1990s. Comprehensive renovations were made in 2008 and added interior finishes, HVAC and accessibility improvements. A fire sprinkler system was added to the 1909 building (for) occupied areas, attic and basement.”
The bad news is found in the “structural systems” section of the report.
According to Parkhill’s professionals, “the 1909 building is wooden frame and exterior stucco. Roof framing has been repaired in the fall of 2022 and the spring of 2023 to address loose, nailed connections and members likely damaged by HVAC operations in 2008.
“A serious issue was discovered in August of 2024, when the teachers reported back to campus. A load bearing wall failed the floor framing and support in the basement.
“The building was evacuated by four engineers and the city inspector and closed as it is not safe to occupy without major repairs, which could be in excess of $1.75 million.
“Research is ongoing about the feasibility of jacking up a wooden structure with two floors and a roof supported by this interior wall system.
More problems are then outlined regarding the school’s roof, which is graded as “fair to poor” condition, noting that while several areas have been repaired in the past, the flashings are in rough shape, with many of the fasteners exposed, and the roof will require a major overhaul in the next five years.
Regarding the campus as a whole, the assessment characterizes the site as being in “relatively good condition,” while noting deficiencies such as the lack of an off-street drop-off point for parents and buses, and the fact that the only parking lots are located across the street and south of the school.
The report also mentions that North Pope Street, to the west, is effectively shut down during dismissal, when cars are stacked-out three-lanes wide as parents collect their children.
According to estimates from Parkhill, continuing operations at San Jacinto would require reinvestment of approximately $7.8 million in the short term, and is projected to require a total reinvestment of $27.7 million over the next 20 years.
The facilities reports on Bowie and Reagan Elementary also highlight significant problems.
BOWIE ELEMENTARY 3700 Forest Tr. San Angelo, Texas
Building area: 59,335 sq. ft.
Date of first construction: 1966
Projected reinvestment 2024: $6.22 million
The original building footprint mirrors the floorplan of Fannin Elementary…in the shape of a hexagon, which produces classrooms with unusual aspect ratios of length and width and presents challenges for staff and students’ proximity to the teaching wall.
Physical condition: Site paving is in poor condition and additional cracking was noted since our 2022 observations. Parking and drives should be replaced. Playfields and landscaping at this campus have been well-maintained and playground equipment and a covered area is provided, but aging. New playground equipment will be needed in the next five years and playgroups should be equipped with adequate transfer platforms for children with disabilities.
Exterior masonry is in good condition overall. Main doors were replaced with clear-anodized aluminum units during the security renovations. Secondary exit doors that are hollow metal should be planned for replacement, along with any original window units.
Roofing throughout the campus is built-up felt and gravel in fair-to-good condition. Building E roofing is newer. The original classroom building roofing is older and water is ponding …alongside the screen wall that hides mechanical units. Roof edges are also blistering in some areas and gravel has washed into a couple of drain leaders. This roofing should be planned for replacement or major repair in the next five years.
Interior finishes are well maintained by the District. Classroom carpet in the original building is broadloom, stained in some places but clean. Vinyl-composite tile flooring in the hallways is in fair condition and the VCT in Building E. Wall finishes are in fair condition and almost all painted gypsum wallboard, which requires continual maintenance and painting. Ceiling finishes in the original building …are in relatively good condition given the age. Restroom finishes should be upgraded with renovation for plumbing and accessibility and partitions, including the ones rusting in the 1996 addition, should be replaced.
HVAC units are new on Building E but all the units on the original building should be planned for near-term replacement. Plumbing in the original building should also be replaced, and site utilities for plumbing also be replaced at the same time the paving is being replaced.
Electrical and fire alarm systems are functioning adequately, but replacement of the original building panels should be planned in the next five years. Lighting has been retrofitted to energy-efficient fixtures.
Safety, Security, Adequacy and Accessibility: The building does provide a secure vestibule for visitor entry and site fencing has been provided to keep pedestrians from walking through the campus.
Accommodations have been made by necessity where possible, but a comprehensive renovation would be needed in many areas to achieve full compliance. Classroom restrooms in the original building are too small to meet accessibility guidelines and some secondary exits out of classroom pods are not accessible. A makeshift ramp for student access to the stage has been provided. Building E was built to a previous accessibility standard.
In addition to the classroom aspect ratios, the configuration of the hallways and the travel of students between rooms to get to perimeter classrooms is not ideal. Acoustics in the building are poor.
The library and cafeteria are small for the number of students served on campus, and with only one serving line, it further complicates the school schedule. The clinic space, at approximately 200 square feet, is also small. Portables are provided on campus and are used for some support activities, but also OT/PT and speech. The central HUB space has been utilized for STEAM-type activities.
Projected reinvestment through 2044: $16,315,000
Total replacement cost: $28,961,394 (based on current size)
Source: Parkhill via San Angelo ISD
REAGAN ELEMENTARY 1600 Volney St. San Angelo, Texas
Building area: 69,030 sq. ft. or 76,140 sq. ft. (SAISD vs Parkhill)
Date of first construction: 1909
…one smaller cafeteria addition made in 1950 and a large classroom building completed in 1996. Comprehensive renovations were made in 2008 and included interior finishes, HVAC and accessibility improvements. A fire sprinkler system was added to the 1909 building , the occupied areas, attic and basement.
Projected reinvestment 2024: $6.3 million
Physical condition: Site is relatively good condition. Staff parking areas are limited. A dedicated, off-street drop-off land is provided and used for buses and parents. Ideally, bus and parent traffic would be separated.
The structural systems in the newer buildings are performing adequately based on age. The 1909 building is wooden frame and exterior stucco. First floor framing were observed in addition to previous repair attempts. While the flooring members can adequately support code-required loads, floor deflections are excessive and do not meet serviceability guidelines. Floors are squeaky and bouncy, essentially. Roof framing members were repaired in the fall of 2022 and spring of 2023 to address loose, nailed connections and members likely damaged by HVAC operations in 2008. A repair project to address first floor framing members was completed in August 2024.
Roofing is in fair condition. A section on the 1909 building was repaired to address an area of ponding. The blue metal roof on the 1996 addition will need replacement in the next five years as will areas of the built-up roof on the main building.
Plumbing and HVAC systems are in good condition overall; chillers were replaced in 2008. Electric panels were upgraded in many areas in 2008.
Total reinvestment through 2044: $27,870,453
Total replacement cost: $37,163,908 (based on current size)
Source: Parkhill via San Angelo ISD
The San Jacinto campus, first known as the East Ward School, was one of four identical elementary schools that opened in San Angelo in 1909.
The district consolidated operations from San Jacinto over to Reagan Elementary temporarily for the current school year, while continuing to house other operations, including pre-kindergarten classes, in safe buildings not connected to the main structure.
These events followed the Trustees’ decision in late February of 2023 to close two San Angelo elementary schools, opting to shut down operations at Austin and Alta Loma elementaries as a money-saving measure.
Several districts in Texas have announced similar measures this school year, as Lewisville, Plano, Richardson and Amarillo opted to shutter elementary schools citing declining enrollment and major budget shortfalls caused by loss of state funding.
The next regular meeting of the Board of Trustees is slated for 5:45 p.m. Monday, Jan. 21, at the SAISD Administration Building, 1621 University Ave. San Angelo, Texas.
