CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — The teachers and students from Cunningham and South Park middle schools have met at events this past year, and on Aug. 26 the former sports rivals will come together under one very new, high-tech roof.
One of CCISD's newest middle schools is expected to house a total of 1,100 kids on the 170,000 sq. ft. campus.
Cunningham Middle School at South Park's new principal Sandy Salinas-DeLeon, can't wait for the kids to see their new middle school.
"The opportunities they're going to have with this technology on campus," she said. "The advancements that we have, the opportunities of the different type of learning styles, the collaboration -- all that aspect of real world is what's most exciting."
CCISD to debut three new schools this year
The classrooms are filled with state-of-the-art technology, including a smart TV and 10 Chromebook computers.
The campus is built to last for over 100 years. Sixth graders will be located on the first floor, and seventh and eighth graders on the second. The school has has two gyms and outdoor tennis and basketball courts, along with top-notch music, art and athletic facilities.
But the most important feature, architect James Moore says, is the school design's forward-looking approach to protecting its students.
"(The) main concern was about safety, security, and visibility," he said. "We've opened all of the school up so that visibility exists between student to administration, administration to threats or possible threats coming from the outside."
And the new theme for Cunningham Middle School at South Park is unity
"We're not just about an individual campus, we're CCISD," DeLeon says.
