On Wednesday, August 5, Westwood Junior High School hosted its second Parent Information Meeting for the campus transformation project as part of Richardson ISD’s voter-approved Bond 2025 program. Thank you to the families who attended. During the meeting, district leaders provided updates on construction progress, campus safety measures, and traffic flow, while reaffirming Richardson ISD’s commitment to maintaining a safe learning environment and keeping families informed throughout every phase of construction.
Watch the recorded meeting or see the full presentation.
Construction Progress
District Facilities Services staff shared an overview of the project’s current phase and reviewed work completed during Summer 2026. Families learned that over the summer months perimeter construction fencing and site mobilization are complete. A temporary fire lane has been fully constructed, and contractor laydown yards and job trailers are established off La Cosa Drive.
Active construction is underway on the new middle school building and the existing Westwood Junior High School building and front main drive off Arapaho Road remain open and fully operational for student learning.
Student Safety
Safety remains the district’s highest priority throughout construction. District staff reviewed multiple measures that have been implemented to maintain complete separation between students, staff, and construction activities. These include:
- Fencing, privacy screening, and locked gates separate construction areas from student zones. Only authorized Hill & Wilkinson personnel hold key access to gates.
- All contractors undergo mandatory background checks and must wear identifying badges at all times.
- Hill & Wilkinson staff perform daily safety walks to identify and fix potential hazards immediately.
- Construction teams meet weekly with campus leadership to align work activities around school events.
Traffic and Campus Operations
Families received an overview of traffic patterns that will be in place for the start of 2026-27 school year. The presentation highlighted designated areas for bus transportation, parent drop-off and pick-up, visitor parking, staff parking, and student entrances. Construction traffic will remain separated from daily campus operations to minimize disruptions and maintain safe access for students and families.
Athletics
To accommodate active construction zones, select athletic facilities on campus are temporarily restricted, and off-site provisions have been arranged for the 2026–2027 school year:
- On-Campus Facilities: Both the Competition Gym and Practice Gym remain available on campus. As a result, both Volleyball and Basketball will be played on campus.
- The campus Track, Football Field, and Tennis Courts are unavailable due to construction. As a result, the following locations have been established for the 2026–2027 school year:
- Football – Spring Creek Elementary Field
- Soccer – Spring Creek Elementary Field
- Track – Richardson High School
- Tennis – Richardson High School
Specific practice schedules and transportation details will be communicated directly by team coaches following final tryouts and team selections.
Looking Ahead
District leaders emphasized that student and staff safety will continue to guide every phase of construction. Families were encouraged to stay engaged as the project progresses, with additional parent meetings planned throughout the construction process. The next Parent Information Meeting is anticipated for November or December 2026.
The district also encouraged families to follow project updates through the Bond 2025 website and thanked parents for their continued partnership and support as Westwood Middle School undergoes its transformation.
