The Bridge City Independent School District Board of Trustees on June 25 authorized Superintendent Dr. Mike Kelly to begin contract negotiations with SpawGlass to serve as the Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) for the district's planned Bridge City Performing Arts Center. The action followed the board's closed executive session under state law and was made during a reconvened public meeting at 10:45 p.m. at the district administration building.

The motion matters because selecting a CMAR is a key step before a construction contract can be finalized and construction can begin; the board directed a negotiated approach while reserving the option to revisit candidate rankings if negotiations fail. Trustee Mark Anderson made the motion, Trustee Paul Zoch seconded it, and the board carried the motion unanimously among those voting.

Board members discussed the item after returning from executive session called under Texas Government Code Section 551.087 (Economic Development Negotiations). The board authorized Dr. Kelly to begin negotiations with SpawGlass and instructed that, should negotiations be unsuccessful, references yield unfavorable information, or SpawGlass be determined not to be the right fit for the district, the board will reconvene to rank the remaining CMAR candidates. The transcript records no formal vote breakdown besides the motion being carried unanimously.

Trustees present at the meeting included President Rebecca Rutledge, Mark Anderson, Mike Johnson, Jerry McInnis, Paul Zoch and Judy Cole; Trustee Thad Hill is recorded as arriving late. Superintendent Dr. Mike Kelly and guests Will Clayton and Farid Pena with Claycomb attended the work session. The meeting began at 6:00 p.m., moved into executive session at 6:07 p.m., reconvened at 10:45 p.m., and adjourned at 10:50 p.m.

Next steps indicated by the board are for Dr. Kelly to proceed with contract negotiations with SpawGlass and for the board to reconvene only if negotiations falter, references are unfavorable, or the district determines SpawGlass is not a fit. The record does not specify a construction budget, timeline, or funding source for the Performing Arts Center.