Monitor Photo/Denise York
Claycomb and Associates presents a slideshow presentation of the design for the new high school CTE addition.

MABANK—The Mabank ISD Board of Trustees approved the designs for the new high school CTE addition and elementary campus when they met Nov. 18 for their regular monthly meeting.
Claycomb Associates Principal Aron Lee presented the design phase of the building plans to the board. The new Career Technical Education (CTE) wing which will be positioned behind the current high school building will be approximately 65,000 sq. ft with 27 potential classrooms. The new wing will free up seven to eight classrooms in the existing building for core classes and adds capacity for 300-350 students. It will also provide classrooms for four or five teachers who float currently.
The addition will feature a floral shop where floral students can sell their arrangements in the school and a café where culinary students will not only learn how to prepare food in the professionally appointed commercial kitchen, but will learn all aspects of running a restaurant. Lee told the group it is “a state-of-the-art facility that’s going to inspire kids, not just high-school level but beyond that to their careers.”
The new elementary campus, which will house third and fourth grades, is expected to be 84,000 sq. ft. The two-story campus will have 38 new classrooms, adding 750 student capacity to the district. The campus will be built on land purchased by the district behind the Bluestone Apartments. Chief Financial Officer Scott Hyde told The Monitor that roads are planned to allow easy access to the school for student drop off and pick up. 
The design features a tubular slide attached to the main staircase, along with bright colors and a fresh contemporary look. Since these are initial designs, there may be changes to the finished product. Lee said the firm now moves on to the next phase, completing the construction documents.
Hyde also presented the results of the Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas (FIRST) report for the 2022-23 school year. Hyde reported that the school received 100%, the highest rating. He told the group the district is graded on 21 separate metrics since two have been suspended since COVID. The report creates transparency with regard to how they handle their money and Hyde said if they were graded on the other two metrics, the district would still have received a perfect score.
In other business, trustees:
• Heard a presentation by Mabank Education Foundation Director Tonya Chapman regarding awarding up to $55,000 in grants
• Approved a donation of $1,500 from Mark Johannesen on behalf of Raymond Shackelford III to the HS Boys Golf Program
• Approved the official ballot for Henderson County Appraisal District Board of Directors
• Approved extending the Interim Superintendent’s Contract to July 2025
• Authorized the Interim Superintendent to have hiring authority through July 2025.
• Accepted a check from Linebarger Law Firm for $6,340.73 for excess proceeds from 8/21/24 resale.