Bond Projects
May 2023 Construction Update Video
- Middle School
- Multipurpose Building
- Baseball/Softball Turf
- Ag Barn & Shop
- Concessions & Restrooms
- Parking/Band Grid
- Long-Term Plan
Middle School
According to the Texas Education Agency and the Commissioner’s Rules Concerning School Facilities, "Classrooms at the secondary school level shall have a minimum of 28 square feet per pupil or 700 square feet per room." The current CMS 7th grade Texas History classroom is approximately 500 square feet. There is more than one classroom in the current building that is smaller than it should be.
With the new Commerce Middle School, our students and teachers will have ample room for today's educational needs. Many of the current CMS classrooms are built in a "shotgun" style which lends itself to students sitting in rows that face the front of the room. Our teaching professionals know that seating the students in collaborative groups with flexible configuration options is optimal in today's modern classroom. A new facility will provide that need for our Tigers.
The Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) for the new school was approved by the CISD Board of Trustees during their October meeting. Jackson Construction began construction in November.
The school is scheduled to be completed in fall of 2024.
Multipurpose Building
The Commerce ISD Bond includes an astroturfed pavilion and will be used as a multipurpose venue for all student groups in Commerce ISD -- athletics, fine arts, spirit groups, field day activities and community use.
The facility provides a covered area that allows our students to practice in a safe environment during wet seasons, stormy weather, and in the heat of the summer.
The facility includes lights, netting and dividing curtains and sits on the north side of the current CHS football field.
Baseball/Softball Turf
The Commerce ISD bond included astroturf for the current baseball and softball fields. This item will impact more than just the players and coaches of Commerce ISD!
According to former Texas A&M University-Commerce Softball coach, Richie Bruister, "The city of Commerce, as well as TAMU-C will be able to hold baseball and softball tournaments that will draw in thousands of people. We aren’t talking about thousands of dollars we are talking about hundreds of thousands of dollars of economic impact on our community." During the first Bond Steering Committee meeting, Coach Bruister also mentioned that he has had to turn away or schedule major tournaments in other local towns due to the lack of facilities in Commerce.
Hellas Construction completed the construction of the fields and our Tiger softball and baseball teams are enjoying them this season. Sidewalks and concession stands/restrooms are on schedule to be completed in the 2023-24 school year.
Ag Barn & Shop
The new Agriculture Barn with a combined Vocational Agriculture Shop will sit just south of CHS and east of the baseball/softball complex. Vocational Agriculture programs, like our popular welding certification, are crowded in the current shop and we welcome the additional room for growth that the new shop will provide.
The barn is scheduled to be completed in December of 2023.
Commerce ISD has secured an alternative location to house show animals for the upcoming show season.
Concessions & Restrooms
Parking/Band Grid
The Commerce Roaring Tiger Marching Band practice grid is located in the CHS teacher parking lot. During the season, our CHS teachers graciously park elsewhere to allow our Tigers a practice area.
The Commerce ISD Bond included an additional parking lot which will serve as the dedicated practice grid for the band in the fall and ample parking for the baseball and softball fields in the spring. Plus, the CHS teachers will get their parking lot back!
The grid is complete and is being utilized daily by our Roaring Tiger Marching Band.
Long-Term Plan
This is the FUTURE VISION for our Tigers! Our long-range plan includes all of the current building projects plus a Fine Arts Addition to the current High School plus new Tennis Courts and a full Football Stadium with a Field House connecting the Multipurpose Facility.
Every school district plans for future expansion and we are excited for the future of Commerce ISD!
Every school district plans for future expansion and we are excited for the future of Commerce ISD!