District gathers student input for new Spring High School, seeks CMAR for community engagement center renovation

Spring Independent School District staff updated trustees on two connected facility efforts Jan. 16: student outreach for the New Spring High School design and a request-for-proposal (RFP) to hire a construction manager at risk (CMAR) for the Sheila Jackson Lee Family and Community Engagement Center renovation.

Student outreach and design feedback District operations staff, architects and other leaders visited feeder middle schools in December to show students the new high school design and the fly-through video and to solicit open-ended feedback. Students cited the following priorities: engaging extracurriculars (athletics, robotics, mariachis/band, esports), opportunities for internships and dual-credit, interest in practical classes (architecture, STEM design), physical features such as writable whiteboard walls and comfortable collaboration spaces, and safety measures (including secured interior courtyards and camera/security visibility).

District staff said they will incorporate feasible student comments into the design and continue site-level outreach; staff also reported positive reactions from high-school students who participated in engineering reviews.

CMAR request for the community engagement center The district solicited a CMAR for the Sheila Jackson Lee Family and Community Engagement Center, which will reface and renovate an existing building. Staff explained the CMAR model brings the constructor into design discussions earlier so the team can advise on constructability, long-lead items and phasing. The estimated project budget was presented as a modest capital project (orders of magnitude discussed as lower than large school builds), and the procurement team recommended moving forward with a CMAR given project complexity.

Trustee questions and procurement context Trustees asked about the RFP evaluation scores (some proposers had lower reference or safety-record scores), and staff explained that smaller or newer firms sometimes receive lower reference scores because references fail to respond; the recommended proponent improved scores in the interview phase and the team judged them qualified for the second round. Trustees also suggested turning the student-interview questions into a broader, districtwide survey to provide a grade-level temperature check about high-school interests.

Why it matters: The new Spring High School is a major capital project for the district; incorporating student voice navigates community expectations and informs programming. The CMAR approach aims to reduce redesign and change-order risk for the community-center renovation by integrating contractor expertise during design.

Ending: Staff requested board approval for CMAR procurement steps at the next meeting and committed to continuing student engagement and a broader parent/community survey.