Chief Financial Officer Pam Sanchez provided the board of trustees with a progress update during the Nov. 19 board meeting.
The gist
In September, the board approved a maximum price of $46.3 million for the first phase of the project, which will include site work such as excavating and filling; paving asphalt and concrete; and constructing retaining walls, wastewater and water systems, and electrical utilities.
Sanchez said staff anticipated getting the permit from Travis County to begin the work in October, but it was not approved until Nov. 19.
However, LTISD still does not have the permit "in hand" so work cannot begin yet, Sanchez said.
"We believe things will be in place to begin site clearance sometime in December," Sanchez said. "This will put us about two or three months behind schedule that we had originally been working with, but we will do everything in our power to try to get back on schedule."
The site will also still require another round of permitting for detention ponds, traffic mitigation and more.
The goal remains to open the school in August 2028; however, the timing of the permit issuance makes it increasingly unlikely, Sanchez said.
"We are, however, moving forward with all the preparation work required in opening a new campus," Sanchez said.
What they're saying
Superintendent Curtis Null said the permitting process began last November and that staff believed they were "one signature away" from a permit when the board approved the maximum price in September.
"We are going to make every effort to get us back on schedule, but we also have to be real and open and honest with the community that we have basically lost any cushion that existed in this process," Null said. "We have three years here of weather that could get in our way, or supply chain issues that could pop up. ... The frustrating part about that is we won't know today or we won't know six months from now for sure if we'll make it to 2028."
What else?
Development of Reimers Road leading up to the new school site is still underway, Sanchez said. Construction began in June and is expected to be complete in September 2026.
Looking back
Voters approved construction of the second high school as part of the 2022 bond, and its athletic facilities were approved as part of the 2023 bond. In March, the board approved the general contractor for the project.
The 150-acre site will have a 1,500-student capacity and include a performing arts center, media center, outdoor courtyard and commons area, competition gym, auditorium, practice fields, and competition fields with a stadium.
Get involved
The district will gather community input on the school's name and colors through a Google Form posted on the district's website and shared through email, newsletters and social media.
- Dec. 3-Jan. 12: form opens
- Jan. 21: entries presented to the board
- Feb. 18: approval of name and colors requested from the board
