Refreshes at Burks Elementary, Webb Elementary and Johnson Middle schools will start on the last day of school, May 20, as part of the 2021 bond.
The district refreshes or updates its campuses on a 15-year basis, said Jason Bird, deputy superintendent of business, operations, accountability and technology. Once renovations are completed, each school will look brand new, he added.
MISD’s facilities department will manage all three projects to eliminate contractor, architectural and engineering fees, according to meeting documents. The goal is to use funds that would have been spent on fees to address other work throughout the 2021 bond package.
The district hired Estes McClure & Associates to prepare heating, ventilation and air conditioning; lighting fixtures; and fire replacement documents for the schools.
Burks and Webb elementary schools were last renovated in 2002. Both schools were constructed in the 1950s. The renovations will include new countertops and cabinets, plumbing fixtures, and paint, according to meeting documents. The projects will also replace room signage, gym wall pads and the campus security systems.
Representatives from the district’s operations department have presented monthly cost updates to the board for all three campuses as materials and companies were chosen for each project. February’s meeting was the last of these updates, Chief Operations Officer Greg Suttle said.
Burks Elementary School will cost about $2.7 million to refresh, according to an estimate in district documents. Webb Elementary School will cost just under $3.6 million to renovate. Both estimates include a 20% contingency for any unforeseen conditions. Any unused funds will be refunded to the district at 100%.
Johnson Middle School’s refresh will take place in two phases, due to the size of the school, meeting documents stated.
The first phase will start at the end of this school year and consist of HVAC replacement and interior refreshes of the educational wings, library and cafeteria. The second phase will begin in the summer of 2023 and will update the administration area, building exterior, main corridor, and performing arts and athletic areas.
The probable cost of the middle school renovations is about $5.9 million. It also includes a contingency of about $768,000.
