Initial work is moving forward on a few Austin ISD bond projects approved by voters in 2013, but the district's board of trustees will schedule a discussion about potentially revising the wage rate structure AISD uses to pay construction workers after hearing from a group of local citizens at its April 28 meeting.

During citizens communication, representatives from local organization Austin Interfaith and AISD employee union Education Austin said the district should adopt Davis-Bacon wage rates, which are based on a federal law requiring payment of prevailing wage rates for laborers.

Kayvon Sabourian, an Austin Interfaith leader and attorney with the Equal Justice Center, said the state allows two options for school districts—adopting the federal wage rates or conducting its own wage rates study. The board in January approved a consent agenda item to put its own study in place, and AISD currently uses wage rates based on a study conducted in 2005, he said.

"As anybody in town can tell you, 2005 wage rates in the city of Austin don't cut it in 2014 Austin," he told the board.

The board voted unanimously to approve work on the bond projects, but not before addressing the need for further discussion at a later date on the district's wage rates.

Trustee Lori Moya suggested postponing work on 2013 bond projects until after the district has settled the prevailing wage issue. Doing so would mean postponing work scheduled to take place this summer, such as replacing and updating school bathrooms and HVAC systems.

"I know that we want to move forward with our bond projects, but I'm uncomfortable supporting moving forward with these without addressing the wage issue," she said.

The board plans to schedule a discussion on its wage rate structure for a future meeting. Paul Turner, AISD executive director of facilities, said staff would provide trustees with additional information and research on the subject.

"There are some of the 2005 rates that are actually higher than some of the Davis-Bacon rates and vice versa. The other challenge that we sometimes have with Davis-Bacon rates is the number of wage categories that that covers and the gaps that it leaves," he said.

Trustee Tamala Barksdale said Davis-Bacon could be a solution for the district and is something board members should consider, but she wants work on critical projects to move ahead as scheduled.

"I am hesitant to wait on some of these projects. They're at the top of the list because they need to be done," she said.