Berry Center • Overview

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General Info

Overview

History

Overview

General Information

    The Richard E. Berry Educational Support Center (Berry Center) was funded by the 2001 Bond Referendum. This project was one of the nine schools and five support facilities, the bond package that the community-led bond steering committee recommended by passing the bond election in December 2001.

    The Berry Center relieved the demand for facilities for district-wide staff development for teachers and staff; graduation ceremonies; extra- and co-curricular activities, performances and competitions (choir, band, drama, UIL competitions, athletic events); and catering and banquets for honors, awards, and celebrations, as well as addressed community needs for meetings, events, and receptions. The Berry Center is available for non-district events such as concerts, business meetings, parties, and performances, subject to policies and guidelines for use of the facility.

    The 65-acre site that is also home to the district’s second athletic stadium is located at Barker Cypress and West Road. As a result of combining both facilities on the same site, the district realized a savings by sharing the parking lot.
Location:

8877 Barker-Cypress [map]
Cypress, Texas 77433
p. 281.894.3900
f. 281.894.3911

Amenities include:

11,000 seat athletic stadium; [seating]
15,333 square-foot staff development/conference center; Can be partitioned into 17 rooms [seating]
456-seat theater; [seating]
Multi-purpose arena designed for 9,500 maximum capacity with 8,300 fixed seats; [seating]
Floor banquet seating and catering facility to accommodate the preparation and serving of 1,000 meals;
Handicap accessible, including parking and 4 public elevators;
Complete loading dock, backstage marshaling area, star and support dressing areas;
Over 4,000 space parking area;
Administrative office space.

Provides facilities for:

Instructional activities for students;
District-wide staff development for teachers;
Extra and co-curricular activities, performances and competitions;
Catering and banquets for honors, awards and celebrations;
4,000 space parking area; and
Graduation exercises.

Five Facilities in One:

Arena
Stadium
Theater
Conference Center
Satellite Food Production Center

Namesake

Richard E. Berry was announced as the namesake for the Educational Support Center in October 2002.

The Board of Trustees of the Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District (CFISD) voted unanimously at its October 15, 2003 meeting to name the district’s future multipurpose educational center in honor of superintendent of schools, Rick Berry.

The Richard E. Berry Educational Support Center (Berry Center) was approved as part of the $470.5 million bond referendum approved by voters December 8, 2001.

The announcement was made to the surprise of the superintendent. “There are no secrets in Cypress-Fairbanks ISD – that was true until tonight”, Berry said, joking lightly after the Board voted 7-0 to name the facility in his honor. “This is an absolute honor. I am truly at a loss for words.”

Berry earned his Associate of Arts degree in business from Weatherford Junior College in 1965 and his Bachelor of Business Administration degree from North Texas State University in 1967. He later earned a Master of Education degree in counseling from Hardin-Simmons University in 1971.

With 35 years in public education, Berry began his career in education as a high school teacher and coach in Roscoe Independent School District in 1968. He moved to Arlington Independent School District (AISD) in 1971 where he served as counselor, assistant principal, principal, assistant superintendent and deputy superintendent before he was named superintendent of schools in 1988. He was named superintendent in CFISD in 1992 and held that position until he retired in 2004.