McCARROLL MIDDLE SCHOOL

The recommendation for a new McCarroll Middle School is the result of a community-driven process. The potential solution for the new campus evolved from input from the Bond Planning Committee and feedback from a community-wide survey. If you would like to learn more, please visit Background.

The Bond Planning Committee concluded that replacement was a more practical approach than renovation, since repair, renovation, or partial replacement of the existing building would cause disruption to teaching and learning. In addition, a new campus is expected to operate more efficiently and reduce ongoing maintenance and operational demands.

As part of development and construction, the existing building will be demolished to accommodate the new campus. However, opportunities to honor the heritage and history of McCarroll Middle School, such as incorporating mementos from the old building, will be explored in the design phase of the new building prior to demolition.

In 2024, the district launched a community committee dedicated to long-range planning. This group considered the student forecasted population, educational programs, operational efficiency, and financial viability to determine the optimal capacity for middle schools in Decatur ISD. The long-range plan also determined that functional capacity would be utilized when determining capacity. The replacement McCarroll Middle School with a functional capacity of 1,000 will have a maximum capacity of 1,175 students. Additionally, the long-range plan acknowledges the use of portables to manage additional growth on a short-term basis. With this in mind, the new building will accommodate the growth currently forecasted for the next eight plus years. The design of the new school will also allow for additions to increase the capacity, giving the district flexibility in the future.

The proposed solution separates parent and bus traffic on each site, as well as divides McCarroll and Enis traffic, allowing arrival and dismissal traffic to operate more efficiently. In addition, a traffic impact analysis will be conducted during the design phase to identify specific design solutions to address traffic on and around the site.

In order to utilize the facilities that the district already has, the Multipurpose Building will be divided down the middle and separated internally. An interior wall will be constructed to separate McCarroll from Enis so that students do not mix. The existing cafeteria, stage, and kitchen will become a part of Enis Elementary, providing exclusive access to those areas. Enis Elementary will be connected to the Multipurpose Building with an enclosed corridor, providing safety to staff and students so that they do not travel outside. The existing multipurpose building gyms and locker rooms will become a part of the new McCarroll Middle School, and a separate cafeteria, stage, and kitchen will be built within the new building.

Yes. An interior wall will be constructed in the Multipurpose Building that will permanently separate McCarroll Middle School from Enis Elementary School so that students from each campus do not mix.

The existing field space and tennis courts, which are also used for physical education classes, will be relocated to align with the new campus layout. The field will be constructed with natural grass; artificial turf is not included in the bond package.