With construction going steady on the new Cleburne High School project, Corgan Architects are finding new ways to update the district on its progress.

Using virtual reality, the Cleburne ISD board of trustees walked the halls of the new school during Monday nights special called work session.

As the plans for the school are created and updated, Corgan Vice President and Project Manager Doug Koehne said they will update the VR experience so others can see what the school will look like and how the space will be used.

Local community members, parents and students were able to participate in the VR experience during the second annual CHS Career & Technical Education showcase on Feb. 15, and Koehne said they received some great feedback.

After experiencing the virtual reality program, board Vice President John Finnell said the artist renderings looked great and he cant wait until the school opens in December 2019.

While interviewing district staff before the project began, Koehne said some of the things that were important to include in the schematics was to have circulation throughout the building and natural light.

There is more than one way to get from one area of the school to the other, he said. There will also be lots of windows for more natural light to come in.

Also throughout the school, there will be opportunities for students to showcase their work in their various classes, he said.

CISD Superintendent Kyle Heath said the school is not only for the students to enjoy but also for the teachers and staff to enjoy.

Other business

With half the school year already completed, district officials updated the board on several goals and projects they hope to accomplish over the next few years.

CISD CTE Director Mark McClure gave trustees a continuous improvement plan for his department.

He said his goal is to develop more business relationships with local industry partners to provide students internship opportunities when they take CTE courses so they can succeed in the workplace after graduating.

McClure has visited other school districts in the area to see their CTE programs and how they partner with local industries.

Whether the students want to go into construction, public safety or the health sciences field, he said its important for them to have internship opportunities, paid or unpaid.

In other news, two other district officials updated trustees on the progress theyve made in their respective departments.

CISD Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction Andrea Hensley gave trustees an update on instruction within the district and how their goal is to implement district-wide curriculum to ensure students are learning what they are suppose to learn in the classroom in every grade.

CISD District Operations Executive Director Barry Hipp gave trustees an update on the departments long-range facilities plan, which was established in 2012, to ensure they kept up with maintenance needs throughout the district.

Since the plan was created, Hipp said theyve scheduled maintenance in many areas, including HVAC systems, roofing, painting, flooring and parking lots.

To view a video of Finnell participating in the VR experience, visit http://www.cleburnetimesreview.com. For more information and updates on the CHS project, visit http://www.c-isd.com and click on 2016 Bond.

Administrators give department updates

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(VIDEO) Cleburne ISD board experiences virtual reality ...