Ector County ISD updates Bond 2023 projects; board approves Ag Farm contract and job-order contracting form

Ector County ISD trustees on Sept. 16, 2025 received a progress report on Bond 2023 projects across the district and approved a contract to build a new agricultural farm facility and a standard master agreement to speed priority renovation work.

The bond presentation covered work at the district CTE center, the new middle school, a transition learning center, renovations at Permian High School’s auditorium, a new JROTC facility and transportation facility planning. District staff said the CTE center’s site work and foundation excavation are underway and described the CTE building as a roughly 175,000-square-foot facility; the new middle school was described as about 195,000 square feet and roofing and structural work were reported as nearing completion. The transition learning center demolition was reported to start about a week after the Sept. 16 meeting, and the district said work on the Permian auditorium demolition and renovations is in progress with portions of the drama/black-box space expected to be available for instruction in December or January.

Administrators told trustees that site utilities, foundation work and concrete pour sequencing were ongoing at multiple campuses, and that priority 1 and 2 projects (roofing, underground plumbing/sewer replacements and other renovations) continue at several elementary campuses. The presentation also noted the district’s cameras/surveillance upgrade is about half complete and that more than 1,300 fine-arts instruments have been ordered as part of bond-funded fine-arts investments.

On formal actions linked to the bond program, the board approved a finalized construction contract for the new agricultural farm facility with Hemcorn Commercial Construction (contract price described in the packet as “slightly under $6.6 million”; total project budget listed as $7,500,000). Trustee Wayne made the motion to approve the contract; Trustee Steve seconded. The motion passed, 7-0.

The board also approved use of an A121 standard form of master agreement to be used for job-order contracting (JOC) on priority 1 and 2 renovation projects. District staff said the A121 will set standard terms and exhibit pricing to be used with the eight general contractors previously selected for P1/P2 work, so that smaller, repetitive renovation tasks can be issued via task/work orders without bringing every small project back to the full board for separate contract documents. Trustee Chris moved to approve the A121; Trustee Bob seconded. The motion passed, 7-0.

District finance staff noted the owner-controlled insurance program (OCIP) was used as an allowable bond expense on at least one project and that bills for FY25–26 work are being processed and will show increases in the “actual paid” column as invoices arrive.

Trustees did not request further delay on the items and asked only clarifying questions of staff. The district indicated the transportation facility design (Weatherford facility) is being worked on by Park Hill Architects and a presentation on that design is expected to come to the board in the next one to two months.

The board’s approvals allow contract mobilization and the next phases of project execution to proceed under the terms presented at the Sept. 16 meeting.