On Melba Street, where generations of Longview families once attended Jodie McClure Elementary, Longview ISD marked the start of a new chapter today with a groundbreaking ceremony for a new Early Childhood Learning Center at 500 Melba Street.
Designed to support the district’s youngest learners and their families, the center will provide a welcoming, modern environment focused on early literacy, child development, and family engagement, building a strong foundation for long-term student success. The project is also expected to expand access and help relieve childcare demand that has contributed to waitlists for families in the community.
The ceremony matched the district’s most recent bond project groundbreaking events, featuring iconic gold shovels and symbolic green sand, a nod to Longview ISD’s signature colors and the community pride behind the work now underway across the district.
“This is more than a construction project, it’s a commitment to our children and the families we serve,” said Superintendent Dr. Marla Sheppard. “When we invest in early learning, we invest in everything that comes after it. This facility represents the start of that journey in a space built specifically for our youngest students, and it reflects the promise we’re making to Longview’s future.”
The Early Childhood Learning Center is a voter-approved bond project planned as a 79,000-square-foot facility with more than 30 classrooms and child-centered spaces designed to support early learning and family engagement. The facility includes features such as a library, kitchen, and gymnasium. The new building is specifically designed to serve children from six weeks through age four, expanding early learning capacity and expanding access for Longview families.
District leaders emphasized that early childhood education is one of the strongest predictors of long-term academic success and that the new center is being designed with both students and families in mind, supporting strong school-home partnerships from day one.
Bond updates and project information are available at longviewisd.com/bond2024.