Superintendent Keith Bryant urged the Bullard School Board last week to build a new wing at the high school to prepare for an influx of students, which he says is indicated by high enrollment numbers.

He also moved to remove asbestos from the Intermediate School. Both projects would be completed using $3 million remaining in bond money to begin construction.

A study conducted when Jim Wright was superintendent estimated that there would only be a 3 to 5 percent increase in enrollment at the high school over the next decade. But the high school has seen a 23 percent jump from last year.

"The high school addition is important because we are almost out of space, and we want to take steps to alleviate the crowded classrooms at the high school," Bryant said.

Bryant stressed the importance of adding a wing to the high school to prevent further overcrowding as a result of increased population. This year's high school enrollment of 561 students reflects a 23 percent jump from last year.

"As Bullard continues to grow, it is prudent to plan for future capacity needs for the school district," Bryant said. "A growing school district must try to be proactive instead of reactive. It is my hope that we can plan adequately in order to meet our growth potential."

Not only is the high school experiencing dramatic growth, but the district has seen a 36 percent growth this decade, according to Bryant. The population has risen from 1,403 students in 2001 to our current total of 1,915 plus.

Bryant said that the addition will cost around $3-4 million and consist of about 20 classrooms. The construction for the project could start this spring and be finished next December.

Asbestos removal at the intermediate is also a major concern to Bryant and the community.

Asbestos is known to be highly toxic. If inhaled it can cause serious illnesses, including mesothelioma.

"As far as asbestos goes, it is important to address this now because the intermediate campus has just recently been updated, and this will be the final step in the process," Bryant said.

"The only way this type of asbestos could cause harm would be in the case of a fire because the burning particles would be in the air," Bryant said. "However, there is so little asbestos in the building that it is practically harmless."

The removal will cost around $20,000 and will be done over the Christmas holidays.