Mineola School Board approved the first steps of the project to expand the high school band hall and adjacent parking area Monday.

The board also agreed to seek bids for timber on 126 acres the district owns off Loop 564 and FM 1254.

Two proposals for the band hall project were given the go-ahead, the geo-technical engineering services and  the topographical and boundary survey.

Architect Perry Thomson said soil samples will help engineers determine information related to the foundation work.

The survey work will include locating any underground utilities.

Thompson said he has been contacted by three firms interested in serving as construction manager at-risk for the project. He expects a selection to be made by Oct. 9 and the board to approve on Nov. 16, with site work to start the following week.

A new band hall is planned next to the current one along with remodeling of the present facility and adjacent stage area, plus additional parking at the elementary school.

The board agreed to seek proposals from timber companies to sell timber, valued at an estimated $275,000.

About 96 acres is pine, which would be sold, minus a six percent fee for the company handling the bids.

Board member Glen Dossett asked that the district receive assurances that the winning bidder will clean up the property once the timber is cut. He also had a concern about possible erosion. It is not expected to be an issue with the flat, sandy nature of the land.

Board member Jay McGough said the stand is estimated at 70 years old, and timber is typically cut around 20 years, so this stand needs to be cut. It can be replanted in a year or two to yield more income if it is not used for other purposes.

The center of the stand would be clear cut with a barrier left around the outside, which is primarily oak trees.

The board also agreed to a bid of $86,081 from Cross-point Communications in Tyler for an updated radio system for the district.

MISD Police Chief Cody Castleberry said the system includes 85 portables radios for campuses and other facilities and 30 mobile radios which includes all the district’s buses.

He said the current analog system has service gaps and limited capabilities with only a single channel.

He said several other schools in the area use the system and are pleased with it.

Superintendent Cody Mize reported that since school reopened Aug. 13, four students have tested positive for COVID-19, and all are back in school, and six employees have had the disease, with five having returned and the sixth expected soon.

He said online learning, which began with 22 percent of students, is down to 10 percent.

He attributed the rise in on-campus learning to two factors: some taking and wait-and-see approach, and others finding that virtual learning is highly structured and disciplined.

He said he understands that there are still health concerns and supports those students.