Denton Independent School District (DISD) trustees voted on Nov. 10 to begin converting Ginnings Elementary School from a pre‑kindergarten‑to‑fifth‑grade campus into a pre‑kindergarten‑to‑eighth‑grade academy. The decision matters to Denton families because it expands local school options and alters the district’s construction schedule and budget.
According to Community Impact, the board approved a $5.37 million increase to the district’s general contract for additional facilities. The increase consists of a $4.91 million rise in the construction guaranteed maximum price and $457,038 for added design fees and testing soft costs. Those changes lift the project’s total probable cost from $63.28 million to $68.65 million.
The expanded educational model required revisions to the architectural plan prepared by Corgan Associates Inc. The updated design adds an activity room adjacent to the gymnasium, dedicated middle‑school dressing rooms, a second science laboratory, a second art classroom, and a fine‑arts multipurpose room. Campus finishes and branding will also be adjusted to suit a broader age span of students.
Ginnings Elementary was temporarily closed ahead of the 2025‑26 school year to rebuild the campus under the district’s voter‑approved 2023 bond package of more than $1.4 billion. The original rebuild plan called for a pre‑K‑to‑fifth‑grade school, the same configuration used before the closure. While construction proceeds, students from Ginnings have been rezoned to nearby Evers Park, Hodge, and Schulz elementary schools.
The budget adjustment also extends the construction timeline by 155 days. DISD documents now list the revised date of substantial completion for the Ginnings PK‑8 campus as Oct. 26, 2027, later than the previously scheduled spring 2027 finish. The district has not provided a new opening date for the school.
What’s next: DISD will continue monitoring the construction schedule and will likely update the community on the opening timeline as the Oct. 26, 2027 substantial completion date approaches. Residents can watch future board meetings for additional budget or timeline adjustments.
Sources: communityimpact.com
