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Board hears wide-ranging bond construction updates; approves competitive sealed-proposal method for Hancock athletic field
Summary
Trustees received progress reports on multiple 2023 bond projects (Jimmy Ray complete and under budget; Wildman STEAM delayed to January; Hancock ~60% complete) and approved using a competitive sealed proposal delivery method to build a junior-high-sized athletic field behind Hancock using Proposition A funds and savings from other projects.
The Waxahachie ISD board received detailed construction and budget updates tied to the 2023 bond program and approved a procurement approach for a Hancock athletic field.
Construction updates: Staff reported Jimmy Ray Elementary is complete and currently about $1.8 million under budget; the Wildman STEAM Academy is approximately 80% complete with gas installation on schedule to be finished by year-end and occupancy expected in January 2025; Hancock Junior High work is about 60% complete with storm-shelter, band hall and structural steel progressing. Family Junior High and Howard Junior High remain in earlier phases (demolition, underground utilities, and power-line relocation), and the Findlay and Finley projects were discussed as alternates depending on budget availability.
Large-project estimate: Staff discussed a district-wide high-school project (Waukesha Creek) with a referenced construction placeholder of approximately $297,000,000 that includes a $102d$11 million placeholder for an agricultural barn; presenters said contingency and design contingencies of roughly $152d$18 million remain to absorb material escalations and other adjustments. Staff noted ongoing price negotiations with subcontractors as the project reaches 7525 drawings and that early-release bid packages are planned to come to the board in November and December with final packages in spring.
Procurement decision for Hancock athletic field: In action item B, staff proposed using a competitive sealed-proposal (best-value) delivery method to add an athletic field, track and stands seating fewer than 1,000 behind Hancock so students will not need to be transported across Indian Drive for practices. Staff said funding for the scope would come from Proposition A bond funds using cost underruns and investment earnings from other projects. The board moved, seconded (motion by Mr. McKesson; second by Mrs. Timmons) and approved the recommended delivery method.
Facilities adjustments and alternates: Facility staff recommended abandoning a problematic geothermal well-field at Kelty in favor of chiller units, using $270,000 already budgeted in Proposition C and investment earnings to make the system change. Staff also recommended proceeding with alternate fine-arts upgrades at Howard (estimated alternate cost smaller than at Findlay) and reported an estimated increase to the total project by about $1.1 million for selected alternates; staff said Findlay alternates are currently not affordable within available funds.
Budget and oversight: Presenters emphasized contingency reserves and investment earnings as the means to fund alternates and minor increases and said they will continue to monitor costs before committing additional work. Trustees voted on the Hancock procurement method and approved it; other construction updates were informational and will return to the board as required for contract approvals and early-release packages.
