Gallagher Construction outlines bond-planning, voter analysis and a $47.85M recommendation for facilities

A construction program manager spoke to the Eagle Pass Independent School District board on Sept. 9 about bond planning, community outreach and program oversight, and a district task force presented a recommended $47,850,000 package that includes a consolidated preK–5 campus and a career and technology education building at the high school.

Representatives from Gallagher Construction — including Russ Silove and Oscar Saenz — described services the firm offers to help districts plan facilities, run voter education campaigns and manage construction after a bond passes. “We are Gallagher Construction… we do construction management, program management, master planning, bond planning,” Silove said. Gallagher advised the board on election timing, voter outreach and campaign materials and presented a voter analysis the firm said shows the district has about 34,910 registered voters.

Gallagher’s analysis, as presented to trustees, estimated that a November 2026 election would require roughly 8,100 “yes” votes to pass the same bond package, while a May election would require far fewer votes; the firm recommended a May election as generally easier for bond passage. The presenters emphasized early-voting outreach and said most votes in November are cast during early voting.

A district task force presented its final recommendation for $47,850,000 to fund a consolidated preK–5 campus and a high-school CTE building to “bookend the opportunities for our students from early education through high school graduation,” a task-force representative told the board. An elementary-school principal described chronic facility problems — leaks, drainage and HVAC failures — and told trustees the current layout places students in multiple small buildings with safety and instructional-time consequences.

Presenters outlined timelines and logistics: a comprehensive construction program could take roughly 30–38 months after bond passage to complete, Gallagher said; the firm described its role as the district’s owner’s representative and said it would assist with procurement, project delivery selection and public-facing materials such as tax-impact calculators and bilingual outreach. Gallagher said fees are discussed after a qualifications-based ranking process and that the company typically serves as an extension of district staff rather than a general contractor.

Trustees asked about prior work in Maverick County and procurement; Gallagher said it would follow legal procurement processes for projects and would provide details about local projects after the meeting. Board members also discussed the difference between efficiency audits required for rollback elections and bond elections; district counsel and board members noted that a rollback (tax rate) election carries different audit requirements than a bond election.

Gallagher’s presenters and the district task force encouraged the board to proceed only after legal and financial review and to coordinate outreach through a citizens committee or political-action committee for education and oversight if the district moves forward.