Navarro Independent School District

GERONIMO, TX – January 28, 2026 –  Despite a chilly morning, the atmosphere was warm with Panther Pride as Navarro Independent School District officially broke ground on the future site of Navarro South Elementary School. The ceremony marked a historic milestone for the district’s second elementary campus, funded by the community’s overwhelming support of the 2024 Bond.

The event kicked off with a high-energy arrival for the district’s youngest stakeholders. Students in Pre-K through second grade were treated to a police escort onto the construction site, where they were met by a spirited cheer tunnel formed by district staff and community leaders.

The program began with an invocation by Pastor Dave Phillips of Friedens Church to offer blessings on the site and future education endeavors for the new school. During the ceremony, Superintendent Dr. Mandy Epley addressed the gathering of parents, local officials, and excited students, noting that while Texas is known for two seasons, Summer and "Construction", Navarro ISD is deep into our "Growing Season."

"Growth isn't just about the number of rooftops or square footage," said Dr. Epley. "Growth is about our Panther Family—a community that, since 1888, refuses to stay stagnant and instead chooses to invest in the potential of its children. This school is our promise to provide a safe, modern, and inspiring environment where children can flourish."

The new campus, located on a 30-acre site on East Martindale Road, will serve as the future home for second through fifth-grade Panthers and will open in August 2027. Board Vice President Clint Scheib expressed gratitude to the taxpayers and partners involved in the project.

"To all of our stakeholders, we thank you for your trust," Scheib stated. "The Board of Trustees and district leadership are committed to being prudent stewards of your investment. It takes a village to build a school, and we are grateful to have the best partners surrounding us."

Once the formal remarks concluded, the "heavy lifting" began. After the official photos with the gold shovels, the students stole the show. Beaming with smiles, the children were invited to grab shovels and climb all over the dirt piles, getting a hands-on start to the construction of their future school.

Navarro South Elementary is a direct response to the district's rapid growth and reflects a commitment to maintaining the close-knit, high-achieving environment that defines the Navarro community. Stakeholders can look forward to a call to action in Fall 2026 to form an Attendance Boundary Committee to provide recommendations to the Board of Trustees regarding the new and existing elementary zoning.

Distinguished guests in attendance included:

• Navarro ISD Board of Trustees: Clint Scheib, Donna Gilliam, Dan Reinhard, Joel Frederick, and Becki Stephenson.
• City of Seguin Representatives: Mayor Donna Dodgen, Council Members Joe Rea, Jim Leivens, Bill Keller, and City Manager Steve Parker. 
• Guadalupe County Representatives: Commissioner Drew Engelke, Judge Sheryl Sachtleben, Pct. 2.
• Project Partners: LPA Architects, Bartlett Cocke General Contractors, and AGCM Construction Management.