CCISD cuts ribbon on new admin, training facility

By LYNETTE SOWELL
Cove Leader-Press

The Copperas Cove Independent School District board of trustees cut the ribbon on Tuesday afternoon for CCISD’s new administrative and training facility which is also home to the district’s special education and student services departments.
For the first time, all will be under the same roof inside the former National United Bank building at 408 S. Main St. 
CCISD superintendent Joe Burns gave particular thanks to CCISD deputy superintendent Kirkpatrick, who oversaw the project and worked along with the construction manager of Mazanek Construction. 
“They worked every closely together to make sure everything was done to make this a first-class facility,” Burns said. He added that work continues on finishing the district’s new transportation facility on Summers Road, which will be opening in a few weeks. 
Jeff Williford, Deputy Regional Director with United States Senator John Cornyn’s office also attended the ribbon cutting, with Burns calling Cornyn a “tremendous advocate for CCISD and the hold harmless provision for Impact Aid.” 
Williford said attending events like this are the best part of his job, and then read a letter from Sen. Cornyn. 
“Copperas Cove ISD enjoys a solid reputation as one of the finest in Central Texas. This center will only enable the district to better serve 8,200 students and 1,300 teachers that call Copperas Cove home. As the father of two daughters who were educated in public schools I believe very child deserves the best start in life, and that means access to first class education system.” 
The Copperas Cove Chamber of Commerce also presented a plaque to Burns in appreciation of the district’s chamber membership. 
After the ribbon cutting, those who attended gathered in the new board room, which has seating for about 100, prior to being given guided tours in small groups from one end of the building to the other. 
Deputy Superintendent Rick Kirkpatrick, who helped give tours of the facility, said one of the biggest gains for the district was meeting space. 
In addition to the space for board meetings, there are other conference rooms and a second-floor meeting space ideal for training sessions. In addition to the second-floor training space, the floor contains offices for special education and storage for special education records.
Copperas Cove ISD closed on the property in March 2016 and purchased the former bank facility for $1.1 million. Burns was particularly proud of the fact that the bank partnered with the district. 
“We paid them (for the building), and they turned around and said, ‘Hey, we’re going to donate $200,000 in the proceeds from the sale of the building back to Copperas Cove ISD.’” 
The former administrative offices on Avenue D will be used by the district’s career education programs.