School board receives update on summer progress

There were no school board meetings in July, so the update given to Trustees on August 20 showed plenty of progress from the summer months.

Trustees learned the Career & Technical Education Center Advisory committee met with architects twice during the summer to look at design options for the new campus; the middle school Advisory committee also met with architects to discuss design options and ECISD’s Operations Department met with the Ector County Planning Office; other projects in earlier stages of design discussions are the Ag Farm, Permian High School Auditorium, JROTC facilities, and the Transportation Center; new lights at the Odessa High School baseball field are installed with lights at the tennis center at the PHS baseball field nearly complete; a Request for Proposals (RFPs) to install Public Address/Bells/Alarm Clock systems will be ready to go out at the end of this month; installation of 2,035 surveillance cameras is beginning and the necessary hardware will be installed over the next few weeks; a check of finances shows about 2% of bond funds have been spent and about 6% has been encumbered to pay for specific projects; the next steps to be taken will include recommendations for general construction, roofing, and electrical projects (see Item 8-B below); RFPs for HVAC, plumbing, asphalt, masonry, and fire protection are out; Operations hosted a pre-bid meeting for local companies and follow is being done with those interested in submitting bids; and community advisory committees are being formed for the Ag Farm, JROTC facilities, PHS Auditorium renovation, Transition Learning Center, the new middle school and new CTE Center.

Following the update, Trustees voted 6-0 to approve purchases over $50,000 related to the bond. Three items on this month’s list are a total of $30 million for eight companies for general construction services to address Priority 1 and Priority 2 renovations and replacements; a total of $25 million for three companies for roofing services to address Priority 1 and Priority 2 renovations and replacements; and $3.7 million for three companies for electrical services for Priority 1 and Priority 2 renovations and replacements.