Board tables $10.3 million Crockett Elementary cafeteria and classroom bid until full board meets

San Angelo ISD staff on Monday presented plans and a low bid for a Crockett Elementary cafeteria and classroom addition and the board voted to table the award until the regular meeting next week when a full board is expected to be present.

Jason Henry and RJ Lopez reviewed the project scope: a roughly 21,000-square-foot addition that would add eight classrooms, a new cafeteria with kitchen and stage, new restrooms, 77 parking places and site work. Lopez said the design adds a connector hallway to an existing wing, upgrades plumbing and electrical service, improves the campus lift station and installs a new fire-alarm and paging system.

With Park Hill Architects assisting on documents, staff solicited bids. Henry said two qualified contractors submitted proposals, and Lee Lewis Construction had the lowest price for the base bid and two alternates. Henry reported a bid total of $10,328,500 for the base bid and alternates; staff recommended awarding construction to Lee Lewis.

Several trustees asked detailed questions about scope, the original budget (Lopez said the overall budget was $11,600,000 and the Lee Lewis bid was $10,300,000 as presented), whether the existing cafeteria would be repurposed, and what would happen to older playground equipment (contractor demolition or donation). Trustees also reviewed permitting and a probable start within two weeks after permits are issued.

Because the full board was not present and staff and trustees wanted the item to run in a regular meeting rather than an agenda workshop, the board moved and approved tabling the bid award until the board’s regular meeting next Monday. A board member moved to table and another seconded; the motion passed.