January 8, 2007 -- Dr. Sue Shook Elementary is the first of two elementary schools to be built within the next three years within the district.

Parents we spoke with are excited that the district is trying to keep up with the growth in the area.

One parent is Blanca Campos, who greeted her daughter after school at Horizon Heights, but in a year she thinks she may be picking her daughter up at a new elementary school.

Many parents a new school will help to alleviate some of the overcrowding problems here.

"Just in the 2 years I have been here my son's classes have gone from an average of 18 to 22 kids," said Monica Lozano, of a student at Horizon Heights.

"It is a pretty good idea this Horizon Heights is pretty packed," Campos said.

Packed with more than a thousand students, many of the kids are having to go to class in portable classrooms because of the growth in this area.

"Socorro is the fifth fastest growing school district in the state," said Barry Edwards, Assistant Superintendent For SISD

Socorro Independent School District said they are working aggressively to build enough schools to keep up with the growth in this area. In fact, they say they plan on building two elementary schools, a middle school and two high schools all within the next three years.

"I don't know how they are going to divide the boundaries, but I know since I live on the other side of Eastlake, I am pretty sure these kids will be attending that school," Campos said.

The district is still figuring out the boundaries for Dr. Sue Shook Elementary, which is just a few streets away from Horizon Heights. And with new school boundaries, some kids from Horizon Heights may be switching schools.

"You are not going to get to hang around a bunch of your friends and your not going to get to see them as often as you use to," said Danielle Brown.

But, Campos is looking forward to the change for her girls.

"Changes are good, we have to look at it in a positive way," Campos said.

Monday night the district held a meeting to get input from parents about these new schools and the boundaries. There will be three more meetings.

The first meeting will be on Jan. 9 in the commons at Montwood High School. Then there will be another meeting on Jan. 10 at the El Dorado High School Theater, and finally the third meeting will be on Jan. 11 in the Americas High School Theater.

The money to build all five of these schools will come from the 2004 bond of $188.6 million, which the state matched. The district said this money will cover all the schools. The money will also be used to build a special ninth-grade center, which is expected to open in 2009 school year.