The Pflugerville ISD board of trustees took another step toward building the district's fourth high school at its July 26 meeting by choosing a construction firm to assist in the school's planning and design.

The board unanimously approved a $2,450,000 expenditure to secure the services of Austin-based American Constructors.

PISD Assistant Superintendent Troy Galow said the district received seven bids for the project.

"Of the proposals received, American Constructors submitted the highest ranking and least expensive overall proposal," Galow said. "Although the district has no previous experience with this firm, American Constructors has an outstanding reputation and comes highly recommended."

American Constructors Vice President Marty Burger said the company has built numerous high schools in Central Texas, including Cedar Ridge and Stony Point high schools for Round Rock ISD, and Stony Point and Vandegrift high schools for Leander ISD.

Burger said American Constructors' role in the early phases of the project will be to assist with the design.

The cost of hiring American Constructors will come from funds remaining from a 2007 bond, said Bill Clayton, PISD executive director of facilities and construction.

"We have an expected [overall] budget of $90 million," Clayton said.

PISD officials anticipate calling a bond election in May 2013 to secure funding for the school, which the district said is necessary to meet the city's surge in student enrollment. If funding is secured, district officials said the new high school could be up and running in time for the 2015–16 school year.

At $90 million, Pflugerville's new high school would cost double the amount of its last one—Hendrickson High School, built in 2003.

"Everything costs more now. The problem we've got now is other countries' demand for materials is pushing up the prices," Clayton said. "At this stage, we sit back and talk to everyone. By getting in with [American Constructors] now we are actually saving a lot of money.