An open area on the second floor of the new Moore Middle School building on July 21, 2015, in Tyler. The area, one of several spaced throughout the building, will feature hard-wired networking capability as well as wireless connectivity for students to work on mobile devices or tablet computers in a more relaxed setting. Andrew D. Brosig/Tyler Morning Telegraph

The new Moore Middle School will allow for expanded fine arts offerings, but what really sets the new campus apart are the updated science labs and 10-foot tall bronze statue of the school mascot, a mustang.

Moore, a math, science and technology magnet school, will start its 60th year at the same time the school opens its new $32.84 million facility on Aug. 24. It is one of six Tyler ISD major construction projects funded with a $160.5 million bond issue that voters approved in May 2012.

The new three-story, approximately 155,000-square-foot Moore is one of six middle schools in Tyler ISD and features high-school level science labs.

“This building is going to allow us to expand some of the science coursework that we’ve been offering and even do some additional courses for high school credit that we haven’t done in the past,” Principal Claude Lane said.

Nine high school science labs – three per floor – are stacked on top of each other and are equipped with sinks, running water, gas, vent-a-hoods, and cabinets for chemicals.

The school is equipped with the latest technology and computer labs on every floor. Teachers can use mobile rolling carts carrying iPads, tablets and Chromebooks (wireless computer notebooks).

Students can use computers to access an online card catalogue or for research in the library, which is much larger than the old library.

“There is tons of storage for audio visual equipment, cameras and projectors as well as books,” Librarian Kergy Smith said.

The school also is gaining space for fine arts, going from limited facilities without even a stage to a having a cafetorium with a stage and lighting that will allow the school to present all kinds of fine arts productions. There are also rooms for drama, orchestra, band, choir, dance and individual practice rooms.

The new facilities, Lane said, “will allow us to grow fine arts and do an even better job.”

The school also is gaining a running track, something the old school didn’t have, as part of its athletic offerings.

It also features a football field with artificial turf and two gymnasiums with a curtain that can be pulled down in each gym, allowing for up to four playing spaces. Both gyms have seating, with the main gym having a seating capacity for 1,000.

“We can have schoolwide pep rallies, schoolwide speakers and other schoolwide events,” Lane said.

Twitter: @Betty_TMT

 

VITAL STATISTICS

 

Established: Moore first opened in 1955

Address: 2101 Devine St.

Expected enrollment: 825

Maximum capacity: about 1,000

Total staff: 100 including teachers, custodians, cafeteria workers, paraprofessionals office staff and administrators

Mascot: mustang

School colors: red, white, black and gray

Website: moore.tylerisd.org

Ribbon-cutting ceremony: 5:30 p.m. Aug. 17

 

FAST FACTS

The new school sits near the old campus, which was demolished this summer, although the old driveway is reserved for buses

Grade levels will be largely divided by floors, with sixth-graders primarily on the first floor, seventh-graders mainly on the second floor and eighth-graders primarily on the third floor

Hallways are 12-feet wide and colored in two tones, one color on each side, to encourage better foot traffic flow between classes

Each floor has break-out spaces with casual furniture where students can use wireless technology and wire connectors as well

The campus is horseshoe shaped around a central courtyard and features a traditional, stately, collegiate appearance

 

MUSTANG UP

What: A 10-foot tall bronze statue of the school mascot, a mustang, sitting atop a four foot tiered granite base

Where: just inside the entrance of the school

Why: The statue’s title, Mustang Up, reflects the school’s advice to students to ‘mustang up’ and do their best academically and athletically

Cost: $15,000 to $18,000, which was a gift to the school raised by parents, the PTA, faculty, students and community. Students themselves raised about $3,000.

Piece of the past: A vintage statute of two mustangs at the original site of the old school will remain there as a historical marker

 

STUDENT ORIENTATION

Date: Aug. 21

Time: Sixth grade, 2-3 p.m.; seventh grade, 3:15-3:45 p.m.; eighth grade, 4-4:30 p.m.

Where: main gym, accessible from the south end of the campus from the horseshoe drive off of Golden Road.

School supplies: list available on campus website

Dress code: available on campus website