At a board of trustees meeting on Oct. 1, Pflugerville ISD Chief Operations Officer Victor Valdez presented a schematic design for a new Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) building at Connally High School. The proposal follows the district’s 3E initiative, which aims to ensure every graduate has a pathway to enrollment, employment, or enlistment.
Current JROTC footprint in Pflugerville
Valdez noted that the district currently operates two JROTC programs: a Marine Corps unit at Hendrickson High School, which already has a dedicated facility, and an Army unit at Connally High School. The Connally program serves roughly 150 cadets but lacks a dedicated building, operating instead out of shared space.
Design details and capacity boost
The proposed standalone structure would span about 8,000 square feet and sit along the east edge of Connally’s tennis courts. Features include a commons area, flexible classrooms, a cross‑fit and physical‑therapy zone, a 10‑meter marksmanship range, a cadet operations hub, a supply depot and armory, locker and laundry rooms, and outdoor training grounds. If built, the facility would raise the program’s capacity to 210 cadets.
Funding and bond eligibility
Although the facility was not part of any prior bond measure, Valdez explained that it could be financed through the 2022 Proposition G bond, which earmarks money for career and technical education (CTE) projects. The bond has already funded a CTE center that is 20‑25 % complete. “Those funds can only be used for CTE initiatives,” Valdez said, emphasizing that JROTC qualifies as a CTE program within the district.
Importantly, the bond dollars would cover construction costs only; staffing and salaries would need to be funded from other sources.
Next steps and timeline
With schematic design completed, the district will move to final construction documents and then issue a bid for a construction manager to estimate the total cost. Because Connally High lies within the city of Austin, the project will also require municipal permitting, which could extend the timeline.
Community impact
Supporters view the new facility as a way to strengthen leadership development, physical fitness, and career readiness for local youth. The expanded space would provide modern training amenities and a secure environment for cadets, aligning with the district’s broader goal of preparing students for post‑secondary success.
Board members and community stakeholders will continue to monitor the permitting process and cost estimates before any final approval is granted.
Original reporting: Community Impact — Austin — read the source article.
