Clear Creek ISD approves $820,444 in capital projects for marquees, safety and grounds equipment

The Clear Creek Independent School District Board of Trustees on Aug. 25 approved $820,444 from capital project funds, 2017 bond savings and interest to fund facility projects and maintenance equipment, including replacement digital marquee signs at four campuses, speed bumps and a security gate at Clear Springs High School and new athletic grounds mowers.

Why it matters: The projects are maintenance and safety investments across multiple campuses and affect school communications, site safety and athletic-field upkeep. Trustees said brand-standard digital marquees help communication with families and reduce long-term maintenance costs compared with outdated units.

Approved projects and amounts Facilities staff presented a package totaling $820,444 for capital projects and a separate maintenance request of $435,000 to replace athletic-grounds maintenance equipment. The marquee replacements are planned for Brookwood Elementary, Clear Creek High School, Ferguson Elementary and Stewart Elementary. Clear Springs High School will receive two projects: speed bumps on the main drive and an electric gate for the main mechanical yard to permit shop ventilation while securing the site.

Grounds equipment Maintenance staff asked to replace three reel mowers, four zero-turn mowers and two tractors used to maintain competition fields and large turf areas; presenters said several machines dated from 2004–2005. The maintenance request was $435,000 and was described as replacing outdated and obsolete equipment.

Trustee questions and board action Trustees asked about prior arrangements in which parent-teacher associations helped fund signs and whether the district is using a replacement cycle. Facilities staff said the marquees chosen are wireless digital models with roughly a 15-year lifecycle, that some older marquees are no longer serviceable and that district standards and maintenance needs had moved the purchases to district capital funding rather than school-level fundraising. The district estimated an average marquee hardware cost of about $52,000 each and noted that electrical-work costs will vary by distance to the building. Trustee Lilly moved to approve the use of $820,444 for the listed facility and maintenance projects; the motion passed with no opposition.

Implementation and lifecycle Facilities staff said the marquee replacements, coupled with earlier bond-funded sign work, will complete the district’s immediate marquee cycle; future replacements would fall under routine capital replacement. The declared average marquee lifecycle is about 15 years; staff said the new models include software support and updates.

Ending The board approved the capital and maintenance expenditures as presented; staff will proceed with procurement and scheduling and report back on implementation timing and any budget adjustments.