CSISD reports progress on bond construction; middle-school turf damaged by public access

Mr. Simak, a district staff member presenting the construction update, told the College Station Independent School District board that multiple bond-funded projects are active and generally on schedule, but he warned trustees that newly opened middle-school athletic facilities have suffered “a lot of damage” from public access since they were opened two weeks earlier.

The update covered completed work at the three middle schools — new turf, tracks, fencing, LED lighting, restroom and concession upgrades and expanded bleachers — and larger projects across the district including consolidation/vertical work at the consolidated campus, College Station High School additions, the CTE Phase 2 facility, Rock Prairie Elementary renovations, multiple roof projects and new playground fall zones.

Why it matters: trustees approved the 2023 and 2024 bond packages to upgrade instructional and athletic facilities. District staff said the upgrades materially improve student safety, capacity and program space but that the improvement cost and warranty status can be endangered by unauthorized use and vandalism.

Damage, security and possible closures

“We are already experiencing a lot of damage from these facilities being left open for the general public’s use,” Mr. Simak said, describing incidents captured on video and photos: dirt bikes riding on tracks (which can “rip the track surface up or it cracks the track surface”), people bending fence posts to defeat locks, dogs fouling synthetic turf, and golf balls struck on turf that can shorten the surface’s life. He said coaches were notifying him daily and that the district had accrued “6 to $8,000 in” repair costs in roughly two weeks and warned repair costs could reach “$10,000 a month” if problems continued.

Simak told trustees the district has started installing additional cameras and perimeter lighting and has posted new signage; he also reported the district had closed access at some campuses (he said AMCMS had been closed to public use) and was considering locking gates nightly or moving middle-school access to the same locked model used at the high schools.

Trustee discussion and options

Trustees and staff discussed options including: automated evening gate locks, turnstiles or pedestrian-only barrier devices that permit people to walk through but block bikes or dirt bikes, expanded camera coverage and greater coordination with College Station Police Department. Director of facilities staff noted existing cameras were mounted on building backs and often showed distant views where faces and vehicle details were not identifiable; staff said better camera placement was already underway.

Trustees asked about liability and enforcement. Staff said if a facility is open to the public CSPD’s enforcement options are limited; once a facility is locked the district can treat entry as trespass and police can take action. On liability, staff said governmental immunity limits claims but acknowledged there is some exposure if someone were injured and an attorney pursued a suit.

Bond-program progress across campuses

Beyond the middle-school turf issue, staff described multiple active projects: - Consolidated campus: steel erection and skylight/roof work progressing; crews working extended shifts to meet schedule. - College Station High School and athletics: stadium and press-box work, turf installation timelines for baseball/softball fields, and an access road and crane logistics described as the driver of some schedule constraints. - CTE Phase 2 (CTU): severe soil and sulfate issues required 223 drilled piers (some up to 36 inches diameter) and use of auger-cast piles; crews were averaging 15–20 piers per day. - Rock Prairie Elementary: multi‑year project progressing, with new stage curtain, floor work and an office addition piers and slab; staff said summer timing and contractor badging were factors. - Playground fall zones: several elementary fall zones completed (College Hills, Creek View, Southwood Valley, Spring Creek, others) with shade structures and new surfacing; staff noted the complexity of grading and drainage for safe installation. - Roofs and hail repairs: targeted repair lists and a full re‑roof at the most damaged site (College Hills) were on the horizon; the district plans to schedule work to minimize classroom disruption. - Fencing/safety: in response to new Texas school safety requirements staff recommended six‑foot anti‑scalable fencing at outdoor learning spaces; the district is standardizing black vinyl‑coated fencing across campuses for aesthetics and durability.

Staff emphasized contractor procurement choices and delivery schedules: the district used contract manager‑at‑risk (CMR) delivery with guaranteed maximum prices on many projects. Staff said using competitive bids across multiple packages has improved pricing and allowed the program to reallocate savings to complete additional scope.

Ending

Staff said they would return next month with a deeper discussion about middle‑school access and that any decision to close facilities night‑time access could be made administratively but would be communicated in advance. Trustees asked staff to continue collecting incident and camera data, to discuss specific technical countermeasures (turnstiles, barriers, lock schedules) and to coordinate enforcement and outreach before any long‑term closures were implemented.