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BISD, city and staff outline CTE center operations and relocation costs; city offers equipment funds
Summary
CTE staff described programs serving about 500 students daily and district financial staff presented relocation and replication cost estimates: roughly $426,000 to relocate/replace equipment, $550,000 to modestly expand (~$977,000 total); the City of Brownsville offered about $1.4 million toward equipment and relocation; building a new center could cost $20–25 million (replicate) to $50–60M (expanded).
District CTE leaders and the chief financial officer presented an overview and cost estimates Sept. 9 for relocating or replacing the BISD Career and Technical Education Center currently housed at the Cummings site.
Benita Villarreal, CTE leadership, described the center’s role as a satellite hub that serves roughly 500 eleventh‑ and twelfth‑grade concentrators daily across health sciences, manufacturing, architecture/construction and human services clusters, using specialized labs and shops to deliver high‑wage, industry‑credential training.
CFO Alejandro Cespedes said staff estimates place the cost to relocate or replace non‑relocatable equipment at about $426,000. A modest expansion of select programs would add roughly $550,000, producing an equipment/relocation subtotal near $977,000. He noted these figures are estimates subject to change over a three‑to‑five year timeline. Cespedes said the City had pledged about $1.4 million specifically for equipment and related needs.
The estimated cost to build a like‑sized facility (about 43,000 sq. ft.) was presented at $20–25 million; a more ambitious doubling of square footage could increase costs into the $50–60 million range. Trustees discussed phased approaches, initial smaller builds with plans for future expansion and possible funding sources including city support, local economic development incentives and potential bond measures.
City Manager Helen Ramirez said the city and the Greater Brownsville incentives partners have expressed willingness to work with the district on equipment and site planning; she described the city as a partner in seeking additional funds and pledged that city staff would cooperate to minimize disruption during any transition. Trustees requested clear timing, funding commitments and safeguards to ensure district‑allocated proceeds are dedicated to CTE construction and operations.
