"If we go out for a bond of $989 million we know that is going to be talked about as a $1 billion bond," trustee Jayme Mathias said. "I want to caution us from using the "B" [billion] word."
The trustees' average bond package proposal amounted to $996.4 million. The median figure came out to $979.4 million.
A cost estimate consisting of two groups of "essential" projects was presented to the board on Monday by representatives from the district's facility consultant, AECOM.
The first group, amounting to $989.3 million, includes the modernization or new construction of 14 schools, as well as costs associated with technology, transportation, safety measures, police equipment, furniture upgrades, bond carry costs and more. The second group consists of lower-priority projects that would push the bond cost beyond $1 billion.
Proposed revisions
Several line items were either zeroed out or reduced by the majority of trustees, including costs associated with transportation and technology. Bringing the cost associated with revitalizing House Park, the football stadium at 15th Street and North Lamar Boulevard, from $15 million down to $6 million also garnered widespread support from trustees.
The majority of trustees expressed support for allocating $80 million toward moving Eastside Memorial High School into the L.C. Anderson facility once fully modernized.
"This would move that school forward in a positive direction and could have a huge impact on the Eastside Memorial community," trustee Yasmin Wagner said.
Instead of purchasing new land for LASA [Liberal Arts and Science Academy], which would cost approximately $125 million, trustees suggested moving LASA into the Eastside Memorial facility.
Reducing the line item associated with replacing part of the Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders campus was also agreed upon by trustees. Instead of pursuing $70 million through bond funds, trustees suggested phasing the construction to cut down on this preliminary bond package.
"There is certainly room to phase [the project] and they [Ann Richards] have never had any issue with that," board president Kendall Pace said.
Additional proposed revisions included eliminating projects from the critical facility deficiencies line item, reducing renovations related to fine arts at Blackshear Elementary School and decreasing campus and co-curriculum master planning components.
Broad support was expressed for utilizing the parcel of the district-owned land in the Mueller development for a new middle school, as well as purchasing land in the southeast part of the district for a new elementary school.
Response from consultants, superintendent
According to Matias Segura, senior advisor with AECOM, the final cost estimate of $989.3 million lacks wiggle room.
"We have combined and refined this [list] down to what I think I'm comfortable with," he said. "There is not a lot opportunity with this number."
Delaying the vote to call for the bond election, scheduled to take place Mon., June 19, was advised against by Superintendent Paul Cruz. He also recommended that the board give him specific projects to cut rather than a dollar amount.
The administration and facility consultants are now tasked with considering all of the feedback from trustees and refining the proposed bond package prior to the scheduled vote on Monday.
