Brief, yet substantial update given during April’s school board meeting

The school board’s Bond 2023 update was fairly brief, yet important.

Our local Career & Technical Education (CTE) committee is studying ideas for the new CTE Center/high school. The committee has met three times so far and has made two site visits to existing CTE Centers – CTECH in Hobbs, New Mexico, and the LIFT Center in Abilene.

Another committee is at work studying middle schools. This committee has met twice and has scheduled a site visit to Griffin MS in Lewisville for May 3.

Later this week, two architect firms will host project planning sessions for the Transportation Center, Permian HS auditorium, JROTC projects, and the middle school.

The Fine Arts Department has now ordered 135 instruments at a cost of $372,000 and 26 of those have arrived and are on campus being used by students.

Regarding interactive flat panels, the IT Department anticipates installation will be complete in all classrooms by June.

In the finance update, money has now been encumbered for land purchases, architect services, technology items, fine arts instruments, and athletics projects. A little more than $20 million has been encumbered, which is about 5% of the total bond cost.

Looking forward, two Requests for Qualifications are currently posted for Geotechnical & Special Testing and Construction Manager at Risk, and contracts are being finalized with architects DLR for the new Transition Learning Center and with JSA for the new Agricultural Farm.