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McAllen ISD details scope and community role for upcoming facilities needs assessment
Summary
Deputy Superintendent Lorena Garcia outlined the scope, timeline and planned community engagement for a facilities needs assessment to run over several months; consultant MGT will produce a final report including a facility condition index, capacity analysis and cost estimates.
McAllen Independent School District staff told the board on March 11 that a districtwide facilities needs assessment will begin in about a month and run over several months, with consultant MGT contracted to lead the study and engage community members and district staff.
Deputy Superintendent for Business and Operations Lorena Garcia told trustees the district negotiated the contract scope with MGT and reduced the consultant fee to about $299,098 from an initial offer of $300,300 plus $6,402 (the transcript characterized this as a negotiated adjustment). She described the study’s required tasks: a facility condition index for each campus, capacity and utilization analysis, educational adequacy, technology readiness, safety and security assessment, site suitability and ADA compliance. The consultant will also identify future facility needs, alternatives, cost estimates and possible funding scenarios.
Garcia said the consultant will participate in meetings with a facilities forecast advisory committee (to be formed) and will carry out community outreach. “They will provide a final report, which will be presented to the facilities forecast advisory committee, as well as the board of trustees,” she said.
Board members asked about committee membership and time commitments for community representatives. Garcia said she would seek guidance from the board on the type of individuals to include; the superintendent and board president will also play a role in forming the committee. She described a likely committee structure that includes separate subgroups for elementary, middle and high school and a finance subgroup to oversee costs. Committee members are expected to attend walk-throughs of campuses and meet roughly one to two times per month, with additional meetings with MGT.
Garcia said the district will use in-person meetings and virtual options as appropriate and will deploy an online survey tool (Poll Everywhere) to gather input. The district will post updates on the McAllen ISD website as the project proceeds.
No final decisions on projects or priorities were made at the meeting; Garcia said the report will identify potential projects and funding scenarios for future board consideration.
