Board reviews school construction steps, auditorium seating RFP and possible purchase of two lift-equipped special-needs buses

Harris County facilities and transportation staff briefed the board Feb. 6 on several capital projects and vehicle purchases that the board will consider at upcoming meetings.

Mister Fisher, director of facilities and technology, said the district met last week with its architect about the old Mountain Hill School and is preparing cost estimates and more detailed information for the board retreat later this month. Fisher said the district is proceeding with a hazard-risk assessment and an updated site assessment for a planned new elementary school on the county’s north end, and staff will release an RFP for a construction manager and present design plans as they become available.

On the high-school auditorium, Fisher said four companies attended a mandatory pre-bid meeting; the district will receive bids this week and make a recommendation at the next board meeting. The project will replace carpet and seating and reconfigure rows near walls to improve egress; Fisher said the work will reduce seating by about 50 seats but “it will still seat over 800 people,” with a rough target of about 868 seats depending on final configuration. Construction would be scheduled for summer break and the RFP calls for completion by mid-July.

Fisher also told the board he is seeking competitive proposals for district insurance and expects higher premiums, and that Gallagher (the district’s broker) will present estimates at an upcoming meeting.

Transportation staff presented a proposed purchase of two lift-equipped, 2025 International buses intended for students with mobility needs. Fisher said each bus is priced at approximately $145,000; the state reimbursement for each vehicle is about $88,000. One bus would be paid and reimbursed through the district’s bus bond program and the other would use the district’s capital funds (SPLOST) as noted in the agenda memo. The lift-equipped buses accommodate up to three wheelchairs in addition to student seating; Fisher said the vehicles are diesel-powered and are available on short notice from the vendor’s lot, which would avoid the typical 10–14 month build lead time.

Board members asked timing and durability questions; Fisher said the lift-bus purchase and the auditorium recommendation will come to the board for formal action at the next meeting. The transportation presentation noted the district has purchased roughly 60 buses over the past six to seven years and that routine monthly maintenance helps prolong fleet life.