Special to the Bulverde News

Construction on the new Rahe Bulverde Elementary School should begin this fall, according to officials of the Comal Independent School District.

Officials had reported in January that Rahe Bulverde Elementary would be consolidated under one roof, with work beginning in August 2009, instead of going through a simple renovation as originally planned in the 2005 bond issue.

But the plans were updated to begin construction this year, instead of waiting until the new Johnson Ranch Elemen-tary School is open in August 2009.

“We are excited that things have worked out the way they have,” said Superintendent Marc Walker. “We now are able to start on the consolidation of Rahe Bulverde a year ahead of what we were anticipating.”

Beginning in August, all of the Rahe Bulverde students will be housed in the Rahe facilities so the Bulverde campus can be turned into an elementary school to house prekindergarten through fifth grades. Construction is projected to take about 18 months.

“That will put about 570 students in the Rahe facility, but it has held that many before,” says Walker. “We will use portables where necessary and the best part is that it will be temporary because, by the beginning of 2010, they will all move into the brand new Bulverde facility.”

In addition, school district officials are determining what playground, library and technology issues need to be addressed on the Rahe campus in order to maximize educational opportunities during the 18 months.

The project, estimated at about $11 million, is financed through the 2005 bond election. Initially, the two buildings, separated by the Bulverde Community Center and Bowling Alley, were just going to receive some renovations. Upon further examination by architects and engineers it was determined that the campus needed much more work and that it should be combined into one facility.

The new and improved Rahe Bulverde Elementary will be “enclosed” so that students no longer have to go outside to change classes or walk to the cafeteria or gym. Pfluger Associates Architects has designed the two-story school and a contractor will be chosen at a later date.

“Rahe Bulverde Elementary will be a safer and more efficient campus,” Walker says. To view an architectural rendering of the construction project visit www.comalisd. org/Growth/Bond_2005_Status.asp.