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Board approves Candlewood substantial-completion certificate amid ADA, procurement questions
Summary
Trustees approved a certificate of substantial completion for Candlewood Elementary renovations and advanced contracts for design/engineering and commissioning despite resident and trustee questions about ADA compliance (sink/toilet heights for pre‑K) and vendor selection procedures; staff will verify compliance and report back.
The Judson ISD Board of Trustees voted to approve a certificate of substantial completion for Candlewood Elementary School’s Phase 2 interior renovations but proceeded amid questioning from trustees about whether the newly installed fixtures meet accessibility and age‑appropriate standards for pre‑K students.
Trustee Monica Ryan asked whether sinks and toilets installed during the renovation meet Texas accessibility or early‑childhood specifications. Assistant staff said the work was a like‑for‑like replacement and that the project drawings had been submitted to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) for preliminary ADA review; administrators said they would follow up with the architect and contractor and withhold final payment if inspections show items out of compliance. The motion to approve the certificate of substantial completion passed 5–2. Facilities staff emphasized that “substantial completion” permits the district to occupy and use the space while some punch‑list items are finished before final payment.
Separately, trustees approved selections for professional services tied to Bond 2022 projects. The board approved the engineering selection for the MEP (mechanical, electrical, plumbing) Package 3 and a commissioning services selection for Selma Elementary; both votes were 6–1. Trustee Monica Ryan asked why the staff did not rescore the RFQ pool and asked for documentation showing how consultants were ranked for a given project. Administration said the district had previously scored a pool of qualified A/E consultants and that staff then narrows and ranks a short list of vendors for each project, per local procurement practice; staff said re‑scoring each time is not required by law and confirmed they followed procurement rules. Ryan voted no on the MEP selection vote and on one related contract vote, citing a desire for a clearer written rationale in procurement records.
Staff said they would verify the restroom fixture heights at Candlewood and confirm whether the project requires remediation or a change order before final payment.
