The Rockdale Hospital District has announced that it will donate the old Richards Memorial Hospital building to the Rockdale Independent School District.
“The RISD board approached the Hospital District with the idea of utilizing the hospital buildings for the school’s Career and Technology Education Center,” said Karolyn Puccio, president of the Rockdale Hospital District board of directors.
“Due to there being no movement in securing an organization or individual to re-open the hospital, and in light of the Milam County Task Force’s findings of making it into a taxing entity, the hospital board felt the best option was to dispose of the hospital property,” she added.
Hospital board members liked the plan and polled neighbors, friends and coworkers and found overwhelming support. The board voted to pursue this option and now legal counsel for both the hospital and school districts are finalizing the donation agreement to be executed by both parties in the near future.
RISD officials said the complex will be renovated and turned into a Career and Technical Education Center for students and for possible evening classes. The school district is hoping to partner with Workforce Solutions and Temple College to seek an $11 million grant to assist with renovations at the building.
“The HealthPoint clinic will remain at its current site and the Hospital District will continue to support indigent care through their support agreement with HealthPoint for the foreseeable future,” Puccio said.
“Rockdale ISD is excited to transform the hospital into a CTE Center for our school district. We also hope to continue our partnership with Temple College to offer classes during the day and in the evening,” said Dr. Denise Monzingo, RISD superintendent.
Logistics is also a positive factor as the hospital is just one long block west of the high school.
- Log in or Subscribe to post comments.