October school board update: demo beginning for TLC, Ag Farm

As a reminder, you can see the PowerPoint presentations for each monthly school board update on the right side of the News & Updates webpage.

October's update for the school board began with information that the foundation placement has started for the new Career & Technical Education (CTE) high school. This project is about 5% complete.

The new middle school is progressing quickly. Blockwork is on-going around the fine arts area, and electrical and plumbing are continuing. This project is about 22% complete.

Demolition has begun at the site where the new Transition Learning Center will be built.

Mechanical, electrical, and plumbing are getting started in the Permian HS renovation. A foundation pad is currently in progress for the new addition and drama room concrete flooring is in place.

Permian’s JROTC facility is being fabricated offsite; footings and leveling work is ongoing.

Fencing is up at the Ag Farm as the first phase of demolition will begin this week. Contractors will enter the facility from a different side of the property than students. Work will be coordinated to allow the students’ programs to continue.

The new Transportation Center is in its design phase.

Priority 1 & 2 roofing projects are underway. Four (4) are nearing completion and five (5) others are in the design and planning stage. At Travis Elementary plumbing replacement is taking place.

Under the technology heading, nine (9) campuses are nearing completion for the PA, Bell, Alarm, and Clock refresh. Twenty-six (26) schools are now equipped with new security cameras. The next three scheduled for installation are Burleson, Sam Houston, and Dowling.

Fine Arts has spent more than $2.8 million ordering 1,469 new instruments and 1,358 have arrived. All middle school risers have now been delivered.

Taking a look at the finances, the dollars allocated for new middle school band uniforms and Mariachi uniforms are being redirected to Priority 1 and 2 campus projects after our bond counsel advised such uniforms were not to be purchased with bond funds (despite the fact it was listed in the approved bond language in 2023). The district will use General Fund money to purchase those uniforms and ensure students receive the items promised in the bond election. Nearly $80 million has now been spent (about 19% of the total bond dollars) and close to $200 million has been encumbered for specific project expenses. A lot of work is happening all across the district. Be sure to keep up with the progress at www.ecisdbond.com.

After the update presentation, the school board took action on four items:

Trustees voted 7-0 to approve purchases over $50,000 related to Bond 2023. This is a lengthy list of eighteen (18) items. To see the full list use this link to go to item 8-B - https://meetings.boardbook.org/Public/Agenda/1406?meeting=707429.

Trustees voted 7-0 to approve an updated agreement for Priority 1 & 2 projects for Burleson and Travis Elementary Schools.

Trustees voted 7-0 to approve a change order for Burleson Elementary.

Trustees voted 7-0 to approve a change order for Travis Elementary.