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Board approves geothermal replacements, sewer upsizing for upcoming campuses; construction update given
Summary
Trustees approved contracts to replace geothermal systems with cooling towers at Howard Junior High and Cliff Elementary and accepted a donor reimbursement to upsize a sewer line serving future Junior High No. 4. District staff provided a monthly Bond 2023 construction update covering multiple campuses.
The Waxahachie ISD Board of Trustees approved three construction actions tied to the district's Bond 2023 program and heard a multi‑campus construction update at its May meeting.
Trustee votes: The board approved three measures during the action portion of the meeting: - A contract with Texas Air Systems to replace geothermal units at Howard Junior High with cooling towers, not to exceed $4,500,000; motion carried 6–0 (mover: Mister Cooper; second: Mister Scofield). - A contract with Texas Air Systems to replace geothermal units at Clift Elementary with cooling towers, not to exceed $3,000,000; motion carried 6–0 (mover: Mister Pitts; second: Trustee Kim Kriegel). - Approval to upsize an 8‑inch sewer to a 12‑inch sewer near Waukesha Creek High School to serve Junior High No. 4, with Oakhole Investment LLC agreeing to contribute $107,121.44 toward the upgrade; motion carried 5–0 with Trustee Ryan Pitts abstaining (mover: Trustee Kim Kriegel; second: Mister McCutcheon).
Construction highlights: Facilities staffer Mister Mott delivered the Bond 2023 construction update, citing progress and remaining work at several campuses: - Hancock Building / Coleman Junior High: roughly 90% complete; storm shelter work behind schedule but crews working six‑and‑a‑half days weekly to try to meet late‑May targets; district not planning to occupy until summer. - Findlay Elementary: about 40% complete; substantial demo and work planned for summer; masonry and kitchen ductwork issues under resolution. - Howard Junior High: about 45% complete; band hall demolition started; significant soundproofing and masonry work scheduled. - Prop C (former C. Wildman building and parking improvements): new main parking lot completed and LED lighting and interior upgrades ongoing; a smaller building will be refurbished for shop/classroom space. - Felty Elementary: geothermal replacement work starting imminently (previous board authorization noted earlier in agenda).
Playground storm damage and warranty note: Mott reported storm damage at Jimmy Ray playground canopies and turf padding. Canopies were removed and the district has a quote to repair safety padding; staff said canopy replacement will occur during the summer and noted the damage appears storm‑related and not a warranty item.
Why the sewer upsizing: The board approved installing the larger sewer now because doing so during current construction is less expensive and disruptive than retrofitting later; the district will be reimbursed by local development contributions as properties and projects progress.
Budget/source notes: The geothermal replacements draw on Proposition C contingency and construction savings from the Bond 2023 program, staff said. The meeting record did not show a vote to reallocate bond project totals beyond the specific approvals nor provide a full updated bond financial spreadsheet at the meeting.
Ending: Trustees asked operational and schedule questions and acknowledged the heavy summer construction schedule. The board approved the three measures needed to advance bond projects and avoid more costly, piecemeal future work.
