Collierville School Board approves 25-acre land purchase, $6.5M middle-school renovation and multiple contracts

The Collierville School Board on March 25 approved a contract to purchase 25 acres on Houston Levy Road for $2,500,000, a $6.5 million guaranteed maximum price (GMP) for interior renovations at West Collierville Middle School, awarded a custodial-services contract and several procurement items, and adopted a change to district purchasing policy to comply with a comptroller review.

The approvals move forward a range of planned capital and operating work for the district, from land-banking for future growth to interior renovations and routine supplies and services. Several approvals included specific contingencies or oversight steps the board recorded on the public record.

Board members voted unanimously to buy a 25-acre parcel north of Bailey Station for $2.5 million, subject to a 90-day inspection and due-diligence period that will begin when Superintendent Dyer signs the agreement. Grayson Vaughn, a representative of Township Development Services, told the board the parcel was selected because other nearby sites suffer from sewer limitations and extensive floodplain that would reduce developable acreage. Vaughn said sewer is available just north of the site and that the site should accommodate a school layout including ball fields. The seller set the price at $100,000 per acre; Vaughn told the board he had asked about another nearby parcel that would have been priced much higher per acre.

The land contract includes contingencies for environmental examinations and permitting; the board may terminate the purchase within the 90-day inspection period for what counsel described as a nominal termination cost (discussed on the record as approximately $100). The board approved the purchase by roll call.

The board also approved a final GMP with Chris Woods Construction for interior renovations at West Collierville Middle School. Thomas, a district staff member who spoke to the board, said the scope includes ceiling tile replacement, LED lighting, restroom renovations, flooring replacement and an extensive kitchen renovation planned for the summer. The approved GMP was described as just over $6,500,000 and includes a $300,000 contingency and the previously approved electrical switchgear purchase of just over $200,000. Board members recorded their approval by roll call.

For custodial services, the district issued RFP FY25-03 after renewal options under the prior contract expired. A review committee evaluated 11 proposals, interviewed two finalists (Hess Facilities Management and Parco LLC) and unanimously recommended awarding the contract to incumbent Parco LLC. The board approved an annual contract just over $2,433,000; the contract includes a minimum-wage increase to $14 per hour, the district reported.

The board also approved a procurement to furnish and install student desks and chairs at Terra Oaks Elementary School. Staff recommended awarding the purchase to Dollar Tree as the lowest responsive bidder at $119,544. The board approved that award by vote.

Separately, the board approved routine governance items: the meeting agenda, two sets of minutes (Feb. 25 business meeting and March 11 special-call meeting), and the February 2025 monthly financial statement.

Finally, the board approved a change to district purchasing policy 2.805 after an audit monitoring review by the state comptroller's office. The amendment reduces the approval threshold in the policy from $50,000 back to $25,000, a change the superintendent said was requested to return the district to compliance with the comptroller's review.

Votes at a glance (motion text, mover/second if stated, recorded roll-call votes as read into the record): - Approve March 25 agenda — motion made on the record by Miss Gibson; second recorded; roll call: Mister Bailey (yes), Mister Jones (yes), Mister Chilton (yes), Mister Cox (yes), Miss Smith (yes). Outcome: approved. - Approve Feb. 25 and March 11 minutes — motion recorded; second recorded; roll call: Mister Gilbert (yes), Miss Chisholm (yes), Mister Cox (yes), Mister Bagley (yes), Miss Steele (yes). Outcome: approved. - Approve February 2025 monthly financial statement — motion/second recorded; roll call: Miss Gibbs (yes), Miss Jifflin (yes), Mister Childers (yes), Mister Cox (yes), Mister Bison (yes). Outcome: approved. - Approve policy 2.805 amendment (lower approval threshold to $25,000) — motion by Miss Gibbs; second by Mister Childers; roll call: Mister Bailey (yes), Mister Childers (yes), Miss Chindell (yes), Mister Cogbs (yes), Miss Kim (yes). Outcome: approved. - Award RFP FY25-03 (custodial services) to Parco LLC, annual cost just over $2,433,000 — motion/second recorded; roll call: Miss Chisholm (yes), Mister Chiltern (yes), Mister Bylen (yes), Mister Cox (yes). Outcome: approved. - Award purchase of student desks and chairs for Terra Oaks Elementary to Dollar Tree, $119,544 — motion/second recorded; roll call: Miss Gibbs (yes), Mister Potts (yes), Miss Jensums (yes), Mister Childers (yes), Mister Pate (yes). Outcome: approved. - Approve final GMP with Chris Woods Construction for West Collierville Middle School interior renovations, GMP just over $6,500,000 (includes $300,000 contingency and prior electrical switchgear purchase) — motion/second recorded; roll call: Miss Chisholm (yes), Mister Chilvers (yes), Mister Vineland (yes), Mister Cox (yes), Misty (yes). Outcome: approved. - Approve purchase contract for 25 acres on Houston Levy Road for $2,500,000, with a 90-day inspection/due-diligence period and standard contingencies — motion/second recorded; roll call: Mister Gilbert (yes), Miss Chisholm (yes), Mister Bob (yes), Mister Bailey (yes), Miss Bill (yes). Outcome: approved.

What the board said and what it means: district staff framed the land purchase as a ‘‘land-banking’’ action to provide siting options in the southwest quadrant of Collierville amid sewer and floodplain constraints identified in long-range planning. Staff described the West Collierville Middle School work as the most extensive renovation since the mid-1990s and said much of the building systems and finishes are more than 30 years old. The custodial contract award continues a four-year relationship with the incumbent vendor, according to staff. The policy change was presented as a direct response to an audit-monitoring request by the state comptroller to align approval thresholds.

Board members did not debate these matters at length on the public record; the meeting record shows staff presentations followed by motions, seconds and roll-call votes. Several approvals include follow-up steps or contingencies on which staff must report, including the land purchase inspection period and standard permitting and environmental reviews.

Proper names mentioned in the meeting include Collierville Schools; Parco LLC; Hess Facilities Management; Chris Woods Construction; Terra Oaks Elementary School; West Collierville Middle School; Township Development Services; Bailey Station; First Methodist (adjacent parcel); and Houston Levy Road.