Reprinted With Permission of Weatherford Democrat

Crystal Brown
cbrown@weatherforddemocrat.com

Surrounding by acres of undeveloped land, the new Brock High School is slowly becoming the new home of 266 students in the small district.

Staff moved into the new campus only two days before the fall semester began, and some signs of the construction are still visible — a worker walking down a hallway with a paint bucket while classes are conducted and boxes with unassembled furniture in empty classrooms.

Principal Jamie Payne said they are still working on putting the final pieces together.

“There are still certain things we can’t do yet that are making it difficult,” Payne said. “It’s been a little bit of a hassle, but the kids have done a great job and so have the teachers.”

He said at first, the students felt lost in the large, unfamiliar campus, but they are quickly adapting to their new surroundings.

“They like it and want to take care of it. Hopefully it is a sense of pride for them, too.”

This is Payne’s second year as Brock High School principal. In his one year at the old campus, he could name a slew improvements the new facility has to offer such as the new technology, mounted ceiling projectors in each classroom, a 100-seat lecture hall, and most of all — space. The school also boasts a combination cafeteria/auditorium with an extra deep stage for theater productions, two basketball gyms and tennis courts.

Scott Drillette, assistant superintendent and former BHS principal for two years prior to Payne, said there is plenty of room for future growth on the 162-acre site. He said the district has many options of what to do with the space, but nothing is set in stone.

“It leaves us a lot of opportunity for future decisions,” Drillette said.

The former high school is now home to a junior high, catering to students in grades six through eight. The elementary campus, which previously housed grades kindergarten through eighth grade, has room to grow.

“They were really cramped and using any available space for class,” Drillette said about the elementary school prior to the move.

Drillette said the new high school has been well received by the community.

“It’s a big project for Brock to do a school of this magnitude,” he said. “We appreciate the community’s help and support as we move forward as a district.”