Weslaco ISD trustees review new ag facility plans as trustees press staff on cost, contractor experience and funding
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Summary
Weslaco ISD trustees heard detailed plans for a new agricultural facility, including renderings, pen layouts and classrooms; trustees and community members pressed staff and the architect on ventilation, pen sizes, a roughly $2 million bid gap between firms and how the district will fund the project.
WESLACO, Texas — At a board workshop Tuesday evening, the Weslaco ISD Board of Trustees reviewed detailed plans for a proposed agricultural facility and pavilion, heard public comment asking that students and FFA members be included in final design decisions, and pressed district staff and the architects for more documentation on procurement and funding.
The presentation outlined the "Pete Aberdego" ag facility as a multi-building complex described in materials as 39,340 square feet total with an ag barn component of about 21,700 square feet and classroom and shop spaces. The materials provided to trustees list a construction cost of $337 per square foot; architects said the design includes a classroom wing (air-conditioned), welding and woodworking shops, a 200-seat bleacher arena and ventilated barn spaces for livestock and student activity.
The project team, led in the meeting by Abel Aguilar (district project staff) and architect Juan Muica of Denac Architects, walked trustees through renderings, pen layouts and mechanical design. Muica said the barn areas will rely on cross-ventilation, large oscillating fans and roof insulation rather than full air conditioning: "It is not air conditioned. We have some high big fans... the classroom is a separate building and only the classroom is AC," he said. The team also showed drain lines and wash areas intended to give each pen direct access to drainage and tie points for animal care.
Trustees pressed the presenters on safety and animal-welfare details, including pen dimensions and drainage. District staff and the onsite presenter identified cattle pens as 12 by 12 feet and said sheep/goat pens would be larger than the district's current stock-show sizes; staff also pointed to grease traps and dedicated wash areas to handle animal-wash runoff.
Community members and students urged the board to include student representatives and FFA chapter officers in final design and operations discussions. "It'd mean a lot if there is a community we could do something like that because it will bring our voices in while building up a complex that will produce the future generation of leaders," said public commenter Diego Calderon, who identified himself as speaking on behalf of a local FFA chapter.
Procurement and funding drew sustained scrutiny. Trustees noted a notable difference between the administration's recommended firm and the lowest bidder in the district's CSP (construction services procurement) process. Trustee Benjamin Castillo pointed to the procurement summary showing the recommended firm listing no current district projects while some lower bidders listed similar work, and asked for the full bid reference materials used for ranking. "On the information that was provided to us... it says that these guys have 0 experience doing similar projects," he said.
Procurement staff responded that the electronic summary does not always capture the complete reference packet and that the ranking reflects multiple criteria — including similar projects, days to complete and portfolio review — and pledged to provide the supporting documents to trustees. "We can provide that information," procurement staff said, noting the committee also evaluates submitted forms and portfolio details attached to bids.
On funding, staff said the district had initially earmarked $9 million for the project and planned to use savings from other bond projects as needed; trustees requested bond counsel attend the next meeting to confirm the availability of bond funds and interest earnings before a formal board action. Trustees asked for a funding presentation and verification at the next meeting, and staff scheduled an additional workshop on the ag facility for Monday to review rankings, funding details and parent and student input. District staff cautioned that if the board rejected the recommendation and rebid the project, the process would take about two months.
Lisa Gomez, the district's CTE director, praised the design process and the experience of instructors and parent participants who reviewed the plans. "This is an extension of the classroom instruction... we tried to be so responsible, and ask questions about things that we didn't know from the architects," Gomez said.
No formal action or vote was taken during the workshop; trustees asked staff to provide the procurement documentation, a funding presentation with bond counsel, and to include additional stakeholder input before the board considers any award or approval.
The board will review the additional materials at a scheduled workshop next week and may bring an item forward on a subsequent meeting agenda depending on the review and any further information provided by staff.
