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Board approves cost estimate to retrofit Sierra Romero Middle to house 'Next Step' special education program amid master-plan questions
Summary
The board voted Sept. 18 to approve cost estimates and options to renovate Sierra Romero Middle School to house the Next Step special education program; staff estimated a full-equivalent build at about $1,060,000 and a smaller phased start at about $600,000.
The Laredo Independent School District Board of Trustees approved cost estimates and options to renovate parts of Sierra Romero Middle School to house the Next Step special education program, a project trustees discussed at length on Sept. 18.
District facilities presenter Salvadore Velasquez (identified in the meeting transcript as "Mister Velasquez") presented a phased cost breakdown and said replicating the facilities seen at a comparable program would total about $1,060,000. "If we want everything...the total cost for the project, it would be around $1,000,000. You can see here at the bottom, 1, million $60,000," Velasquez told the board. He added that a smaller initial build-out could start at roughly $600,000.
Velasquez also told trustees that special education funding available to the project is limited. "The amount that they can definitely utilize for this is close to only $75,000," he said, adding that most construction would need to be funded from the district's general fund rather than special education allocations.
Trustees debated whether the Sierra Romero work should be reconciled with a larger master plan for the Sigaroa (Sierra) High School campus. Trustee Monica Rangel Garcia pressed staff to bring the district's master plan back to the board and to show how the middle-school retrofit would fit into future phases. "I don't know if we can bring back what the master plan looks like. And in that master plan, incorporate what we're talking about here...to make sure that it falls in line with the master plan in itself," Garcia said during discussion.
Dr. Gilberto Martinez Jr. asked the presenter whether the work shown was equivalent to the model site Velasquez had visited; Velasquez answered yes. After discussion, a motion to approve the project as presented was seconded and approved by voice vote.
Why it matters: The Next Step program centralizes special education services and can change how the district allocates classroom space and support services. The board noted the students have been awaiting the conversion, but several trustees also requested additional detail tying the retrofit to the district's longer-term campus master plan for the Sigaroa site.
What the board approved: Trustees approved proceeding with the cost estimate and options presented; the record shows the board voted to open the item for discussion and then approved the recommended action. The transcript records the motion passing without a recorded roll-call tally.
Next steps: Staff was asked to provide master-plan documentation and to clarify phasing, funding sources and how the Sierra Romero renovations will interact with the Sigaroa High School phases when those designs are finalized.
