Boerne ISD: Aquatic Learning Center nears completion; officials target late‑May handover

Ramiro Guerrero, executive director of operations for Boerne ISD, told the board the Aquatic Learning Center construction is entering final stages and the district expects to take possession in late May.

The facility, adjacent to Cibolo Creek Elementary School and east of Champion High School, includes both a 25‑yard competition layout (11 lanes for short course events) and a 25‑meter configuration (9 lanes for long course events), a 1‑meter diving board, designated areas for water polo and instruction, boys' and girls' locker rooms and parking for about 50 visitors plus space for up to six buses. Guerrero said the district is monitoring progress twice daily and conducting weekly drone flyovers to verify work and warranties.

"This week, we're going to finish out the waterline installation. We're going to flush the lines and we're going to connect to the city of Boerne's utilities," Guerrero said. He added that the contractor planned to pour pool‑deck concrete the following week, complete security fencing before filling the pool and stripe the parking lot during the week of May 19. Guerrero told trustees the district expects "to achieve substantial completion" the week of May 26 and then begin staff training.

Caleb Beets, CEO of Tegrity, the general contractor, acknowledged earlier delays but said his team was working daily to finish the project. "I went by the site today at 04:00. They were still working," Beets said, adding he expected the district to receive a high‑quality product and that subcontractors were re‑inspecting work to ensure it met specifications.

Trustee Rich Senna asked whether the facility would be fully ready for water polo in July and for the 2025–26 school year. Guerrero replied the district is hiring an Aquatic Learning Center coordinator and expects operations, athletics and maintenance staff to be trained over the summer; he said Tegrity had committed to meet the stated milestones. The district is also exploring contracted pool‑maintenance services before hiring full‑time maintenance staff.

District staff described project controls implemented during final months: an on‑site quality‑control representative required daily by Integrity Contracting, ongoing owner‑architect‑contractor (OAC) meetings, twice‑daily site visits, warranty verification and requests for extended warranties because of earlier delays. Guerrero noted close coordination with the city of Boerne on the 3‑inch meter procurement and installation; once the meter is installed the contractor has committed to restore a neighbor's yard that was disturbed during utility work.

Boerne ISD representatives credited consultants VLK Architects, DBR and MTR and said recent subcontractor changes have improved daily activity at the site. The district also plans training for athletics, operations and maintenance staff after substantial completion is achieved and before opening the facility for student programming.

District staff did not present a final opening date for public access; they described the milestones above and said the next steps are completion of the waterline, installation of the meter, finishing the pool deck and fencing, filling and commissioning the pool systems, and conducting training. Costs already budgeted for the center (including an estimated $300,000 in annual operating costs noted elsewhere in the budget presentation) were not revised during the update.

The board moved on to the budget workshop after the update; staff said they would continue to provide progress reports and confirm the definitive turnover date once Tegrity completes the remaining punch list items.