Camas board approves $2.83 million contract for Camas High School tennis center

The Camas School District Board of Directors voted to award the district’s portion of the Camas High School Tennis Center contract to low bidder Skyward Construction, approving a base contract of $2,825,335.81 to be paid from capital-project funds. Board member Matthew moved the award and Tracy seconded; the chair called for a voice vote and recorded no dissents.

The decision followed a staff presentation by Dax (ESD representative) on the competitive bid process and schedule. Dax said four responsive bidders emerged from the solicitation, noted an alternate to develop the north lot added about $342,000 to the base bid, and described a critical grade-beam scope item budgeted at $743,000 that will be listed in the contractor’s schedule of values and reimbursed to the district as part of the district’s contractual scope. Staff said work could be mobilized as soon as the board approved and that project completion under the recommended phasing would likely be by December.

Public commenters urged caution. Clark Btech (public commenter) criticized several design decisions tied to the USTA PNW partnership and said some elements—such as a vestibule building and moving/fully covering the courts—appear intended to enable USTA’s commercial operations rather than to serve school needs. “If you simply disallow public commercial use of the school campus during school hours, then the new parking lot in the North Easement would not be necessary,” the commenter said, and added that the partnership as structured could keep the bubble off USTA’s books and avoid Clark County personal-property taxes on equipment.

Another speaker noted Evergreen Tennis LLC has filed litigation against USTA PNW alleging unfair trade practices and seeking damages and an injunction; that litigation was raised as a reason for the board to consider operating school courts directly rather than enabling an exclusive private operator.

District staff told the board they are negotiating an amendment with USTA to split fundraising proceeds, donations and naming rights 50–50 with the district; the board heard that attorneys are drafting the language and that any revenue remains uncertain. Staff also emphasized scheduling constraints tied to the district’s and USTA’s phased timeline.

Board members discussed bid competition and the schedule before calling the motion. The chair recorded the motion as approved in a voice vote with no dissents noted.

The board did not adopt additional conditions at the workshop; staff said they will return with any required contract documents and that legal counsel is working on the fundraising amendment. The project’s next procedural step is contract execution and construction mobilization as described by staff.