The board of trustees also approved several service purchases, including districtwide handheld radios, chillers on numerous campuses and a leasing agreement with a copier company, among other purchases, district agenda documents show.
The overview
The installation for mini split systems, which are mini cooling and heating systems, in bathrooms at the Rig Football Stadium would cost $333,500, and it would have been purchased through the 2024 bond, according to district documents.
Board trustee Sean Murphy said this differs from the cost listed in the 2024 bond infrastructure scope worksheet, as it’s listed to cost $227,000 in bond documents.
Superintendent Larry Berger said there was a change in pricing for this item, since the installation would only be for two bathrooms, but everything else on the bond has been below the district’s projected costs.
“We are not overspending on this bond,” Berger said. “The items that have come in have come in under what we projected the costs to be.”
What they said
“Just because we approve a budget and we have a budgeted number and the contract comes in less than what we budgeted still doesn’t mean we’re not overpaying for the scope of work we’re doing ... and that’s why I have an issue with it,” Murphy said.
Board president Crystal Carbone said she believed that the cost for split air conditioning systems in the stadium bathrooms could be allocated toward other items.
“We’ve been in existence in Pearland ISD since 1910 and we’ve never air conditioned or heated our restrooms at the stadiums,” Carbone said. “I understand that it’s a creature comfort, but the cost of the short amount of times that we use those facilities, I’m not sure that this is a good investment of our money.”
Berger said since the item has failed, the district will go back to the procurement process to provide the board with a different contract for the split systems.
Taking a step back
The following other purchasing items were approved by the board at its Nov. 12 meeting:
- Nearly $2.3 million for seven replacement air-cooled chillers at Carleston Elementary, Challenger Elementary, Pearland Junior High East, Massey Ranch Elementary, Sablatura Middle School, Silvercrest Elementary and Silverlake Elementary
- $1.54 million to upgrade building management control systems at CJ Harris Elementary, Silverlake Elementary, Rustic Oaks Elementary and Sablatura Middle School
- Over $1.2 million for a lease and maintenance agreement of five years with copier company Sharp Business Systems
- Nearly $710,000 for handheld radios for districtwide campus use
- Over $305,000 to ratify site investigation and design development for re-roofing projects at Pearland Junior High East and Sam Jamison Middle School
- Over $170,000 to replace two rooftop air conditioning units at Pearland Junior High West
- Over $140,000 to rebuild a chiller at Berry Miller Junior High
Carbone said although she approves of the contract with Sharp Business Services, she does not believe the copiers the business provides are adequate enough to assist teachers and district staff. She said when volunteering at campuses, she observed papers being ripped due to the copiers.
Berger said the district is working closely with Sharp Business Services to resolve maintenance issues the copiers are causing.
“We have looked at the maintenance contract, we’ve looked at the overall contract, we have sought legal advice on the possibility of getting out of the contract if necessary so we will continue to fight that battle,” Berger said. “We understand the frustration that a copier can cause a teacher when time is the most important thing that we can give them and that copier is not working to where it needs to be.”
