Harlingen CISD updates amphitheater, emergency radio system and campus storefronts; central-plant final payment set for board review

Harlingen Consolidated Independent School District facilities staff briefed the Facilities and Safety Committee on multiple construction and safety projects, saying the new amphitheater at Leaming's Elementary is about two-thirds finished and several campus security and HVAC upgrades are in progress.

The district’s facilities presenter, Mr. Tapia, told the committee: "The first item on the agenda is to talk about the MUSC funded, project, which is the new amphitheater at Leaming's Elementary. We're about 68% complete." He said slabs, restroom walls and roofs, stage areas and storage are in place and that interior finish work is under way. When asked for a target completion date, officials said the amphitheater is expected in "late March, early April."

Tapia also described a safety grant project to improve emergency responder radio coverage. "The grant TA safety grant funded project is the emergency responders communication enhancement system which is a BDA the bi directional amplifiers for law enforcement so that we we can access any dead spots in our schools or to eliminate any dead spots in our schools. And we're about 35% and that's based on the last invoice," he said, later clarifying that wiring at campuses is closer to "60–65%" complete and that the district is awaiting equipment deliveries that could push completion out "another couple of months."

On TRE-funded security and renovation work, Tapia said doors-and-windows improvements at six campuses are about 85% complete. He reported storm doors for Harlingen South have been installed and noted the new storefront frames allow electric strikes and card-swipe installation that prior thin frames did not. He said Marquees at Bowie and Lamar are installed, locker-room HVAC units have arrived and will be installed during spring break to avoid interrupting instruction, and several final TRE phases remain to be bid.

Facilities staff also reviewed a chilled‑water/central‑plant contract at Harlingen High School. Tapia gave the project numbers: the original project was $591,570; a change order of $97,000 raised the contract to $689,453; the district has paid $654,980 to date, leaving a balance of $34,472.65. He said that final payment and contract closeout will appear on the next Tuesday board agenda because "the board is required for final payment approval." When asked whether that project came in on budget, Tapia said the central plant work was part of ESSER‑funded projects and that the ESSER portfolio came in under its original budgeted amount.

Committee members asked routine operational questions about remaining phases, the new frame systems, impact‑resistant glazing and digital controls for HVAC. No formal committee vote was recorded on these updates; staff presented progress reports and identified the central‑plant final payment for upcoming board action.

The committee closed the facilities update after questions and said staff will include more detail in the next written report and on the board agenda for items requiring final approval.