Willis ISD approves multiple construction and vendor contracts, moves ahead on ninth grade center and Elementary No. 7

The Willis ISD Board of Trustees on March 19 approved a package of capital-project and vendor actions that will affect multiple 2020- and 2024-bond projects, a new ninth grade center, and the district’s upcoming elementary No. 7.

Key votes and approvals - Schematic design for the Willis High School ninth grade center: the board approved schematic-design documents and authorized moving into the design-development phase and subsequent permitting. The architect described a three-story academic stack with a 2,000-seat competition gym, an athletics corridor to link to the existing campus, a dining commons with a view to the football field and CTE, and a central internal stair to improve visibility and supervision. The board approved the motion to proceed into design development 6–0.

- Elementary No. 7: Trustees approved the final design and a Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) package with Stewart Builders. The board approved GMP #2 (construction package) not to exceed $35,269,354; combined with previously approved figures, the total GMP/contract figure reported to the board was approximately $37,000,002 (not to exceed $37,000,001.99 in the minutes). The motion passed 6–0.

- Material…