Aldine ISD to open 6 new schools when 2018-19 school year begins

Aldine ISD will open six new schools when the 2018-19 school year begins on Monday, Aug. 20. In addition, Francis Elementary School and Johnson Elementary School will have new facilities for the upcoming school year.

The schools were built with funds from the $798 million bond referendum Aldine voters overwhelmingly passed (by 72%) in November of 2015.

The district will open one career and technical high school, three middle schools and two EC/PK/K Schools.

The Dr. Archie Blanson Career and Technical Education High School will be located at 311 West Road. It is named after former Deputy Superintendent Dr. Archie Blanson. Ben Ibarra will serve as the school’s principal.

The three middle schools that are opening are Dr. Viola M. Garcia Middle School, Marine Jones Middle School and Steve Mead Middle School. Garcia Middle School is located at 11000 Rosslyn Rd and is named after current Board Member Dr. Viola M. Garcia. Todd Roede will serve as principal. Jones Middle School will be located at 20155 Townsen Blvd and is named after former Board Member Marine Jones. Marcus Pruitt will serve as principal. Mead Middle School will be located at 3500 Lauder Rd and is named after current Board President Steve Mead. Jessica Scott will serve as principal. The three middle schools that are opening will bring the district’s total of middle schools to 13.

The two EC/PK/K schools that are opening are Merlin Griggs, Sr. EC/PK/K School and Lou Vardeman EC/PK/K School. Griggs EC/PK/K School is located at 801 Regional Park Dr. and is named after former Board Member Merlin Griggs, Sr. Gladys Moton will serve as principal. Vardeman EC/PK/K School will be located at 3302 Connorvale and is named after former administrator Lou Vardeman. Orfelinda Todd will serve as principal. The two new EC/PK/K schools will bring the district’s total of EC/PK/K schools to 12.

The new Francis Elementary School will be located at 6525 Greens Rd. Dana Stelly will serve as principal. The new Johnson Elementary School will be located at 13901 Homestead Rd. Pamela Riggans-Johnson will serve as principal.

In the spring of 2018, Aldine ISD Trustees renamed Rayford Road Intermediate School after former AISD Trustee Rick Ogden. The school is now known as Rick Ogden Elementary School. Maggie Doran will serve as principal.

Also last spring, the Resource Center at 9999 Veterans Memorial was renamed the Dr. Wanda Bamberg Professional Development and Resource Center. It was named in honor of former Superintendent Dr. Wanda Bamberg.