Cody Wardlaw gym project clears final inspection; board approves fencing change order and hears summer maintenance metrics

The San Felipe del Oro CISD Board of Trustees on Aug. 18 accepted a facilities update showing the Cody Wardlaw gym renovation reached final building inspection and the board approved a change order to relocate and add fencing and gates at Garfield Middle School.

Hector Chapa, the district’s facilities presenter, reported the Cody Wardlaw renovation’s final building inspection was obtained and passed, and showed photos of the interior and floor finishes. “This is the last time that we’ll report on Cody Wardlaw because it's now complete,” Doctor Rios said, and later thanked Chapa for project management that “saved about $2,400,000.”

Why it matters: completion of the gym completes a multi-year capital project and reduces the district’s need to use other facilities for athletics and physical education. The approved fencing work will repurpose surplus ornamental fence material from another site and add about 290 feet of fence plus vehicular and pedestrian gates at Garfield Middle School.

Change order details: Administration asked for a change order with CLAW Contractors, LLC not to exceed $50,368.54 to add roughly 290 linear feet of additional ornamental fence, three vehicular gates (two main gates and one maintenance access gate) and two pedestrian gates at Garfield. The board approved the change order in open session.

Summer maintenance metrics: The facilities update included recent work-order statistics. The maintenance department reported 983 work orders created in the previous 90 days and 746 closed (76% completion); the department said summer projects on Garfield and Cody affected closure rates. The technology department reported 3,290 work orders created and 3,195 closed (97% completion). The transportation department reported 138 tickets created and 131 closed (95% completion).

Discussion and next steps: Trustees asked for clarifications about the gym finishes and technology upgrades; technology staff said labs and cabling upgrades were complete and no summer glitches had been reported. Administration noted that repurposing fence materials allowed cost savings while completing Garfield’s perimeter improvements. The project manager said the fence contractor will return to finish gate fabrication and installation.

Ending: With final inspection passed and the board’s approval of the fencing change order, administrators said they will close out Cody Wardlaw project reporting and continue completion tasks at Garfield and Memorial Middle School practice fields.