By LYNETTE SOWELL
Cove Leader-Press
On Dec. 15, the Copperas Cove ISD Board of Trustees approved the replacement of playgrounds at all five K-5 elementary campuses in Copperas Cove ISD.
These projects total $2,693,185.68 and will be paid for out of the district’s fund balance.
The covered playscapes are anticipated to be completed ahead of the 2026-27 school year.
During Tuesday evening’s board of trustees meeting, Board President Joan Manning said that she and Samantha Wilson, Place 3 trustee, were taken on a tour of the elementary playgrounds by Jimmy Shuck, the _.
“It was a real eye opener for me. We go by the playgrounds and look at the schools and see things going on, but when you really get down to it, you realize we don’t have a playground in Copperas Cove that works for every child, and we need to do that,” Manning said. “And so these playgrounds will work for every child. They’re adaptive, and they will really add a lot to recess times and play times. To me, the most fun thing was just seeing the kids play on what they had. I’m not saying it’s bad, but a lot of a lot of the playgrounds are worn. They’re older. There are some things that need to be repaired on some of them. Dr. Shuck said there will be repairs made on what can be repaired, but some need to be replaced, and they don’t make anymore for some of our playgrounds. So I was convinced that this is something we really do need, and all the playgrounds will be treated the same.”
The only exception was Mae Stevens Early Learning Academy, which has newere playgournds when the campus was converted to a prekindergarten campus.
“It’s our premier playground in our district. So we’re happy, happy about that,” Manning added. “I like the idea that every elementary school will be getting exactly the same playground. In fact, two different playgrounds – one for the younger children and one for the older children.”
As far as when the playgrounds will be installed, and if all will be installed at the same time, Superintendent Brent Hawkins explained that when they enter into a contract, the timing will have to be scheduled with the company.
“They have crews that are going around right now. And so it will depend on when they are available, like a first-come, first-served basis.”
Each new playground space will have a canopy cover.
Hawkins said that the district will update its website with photos of this project, as well as the bond projects, as they all progress.
“The renderings will be added there, as well as progress as that project moves through construction. Everybody can see those projects progress over time. I think that alleviates a lot of questions.
“The thing that I wanted to add to all of this is, to me, it’s really about a standard, and what is the standard? We had a bond election, and our community set a standard for CCISD and what facilities should be like. Our baseball and softball fields were not up to standard. And so the board approved those funds and those things are in progress. These playgrounds were the same. They’re not up to a standard.
“Like it or not, we live in a world of school choice, and so schools that fall below parents standards lose enrollment, lose kids, whether it be in the classroom academically, whether it be the playground or programs or activities. It is our obligation to ensure that standards are met.”
Trustee Jeff Gorres said the playground improvements have been a long time coming.
“An eight-year effort come to fruition,” Gorres said. “It is great we are addressing needs today for kids today.”
The webpage for all projects can be found at https://www.ccisd.com/page/construction-updates.
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