Mountain View design gains 453 square feet; district raises safety concerns at DeBrennam stadium

Roswell Independent School District staff reported Oct. 14 that the Public School Capital Outlay Council (PSFA) granted a modest increase in the Mountain View school’s approved building size and that the district is returning to the design and contractor selection stages. Jeremy Sanchez, district construction manager, reported the additional area was 453 square feet and that Mountain View’s total building is approximately 82,000–83,000 square feet. Staff estimated regional construction costs at roughly $500–$550 per square foot and said construction costs have stabilized compared with earlier years. Board staff said they expect to finish design in about three months and estimate five to six months to secure a contractor and schedule groundbreaking, contingent on design completion and state approvals.

Separately, the district reported visible structural concerns at the DeBrennam stadium site. Maintenance staff and contractors identified three south‑side bleacher columns with major cracks and observed leaning and separation in stacked stone walls. District staff said erosion along the North Spring River has exposed about 40–50 feet of sidewall that helps protect bleacher foundations. The district notified its insurance carrier (CCMSI) and said the carrier’s technical advisor recommended restricting access to the affected bleachers and adjacent stone walls pending a structural re‑evaluation. The city’s FEMA technical consultant also visited the site and advised further study. District supervisors said they will coordinate with the insurer, the city and state funders to define repair, replacement and funding responsibilities.

Why it matters The Mountain View design decision affects the district’s future construction timeline and state funding participation. The DeBrennam observations raise a near‑term public‑safety concern for events at that facility and may require repair work, additional funding and coordination with insurance and municipal partners.

What staff said Sanchez said the district had sought to be considered under revised adequacy standards adopted by the state earlier in 2025 and that the PSFA meeting in October produced a partial increase in the school’s approved size. He said some requests were not granted but that the increase allows the district to continue final design. On DeBrennam, administrators described recently observed movement and cracking and reported active engagement by the insurer and city technical consultants to determine next steps. Staff said they were prepared to restrict public access until structural engineers report back.

Key numbers and timing - Mountain View: +453 square feet approved by PSFA; building roughly 82,000–83,000 sq ft; estimated regional construction cost $500–$550 per sq ft. - Design finish estimated in about three months (from Oct. 2025); contractor selection and readiness for groundbreaking about five to six months out. - DeBrennam: three concrete columns with major cracks observed; approximately 40–50 feet of river sidewall washed away near the bleacher foundations.

Next steps District staff said they will complete final design work, proceed through the construction selection process and return to Santa Fe to request construction funding. For DeBrennam the insurer and a structural engineering consultant will re‑evaluate the site and the district will report repair options to the board.