The groundwork for future building projects was laid by the Alba-Golden School Board Monday.

Superintendent Cole McClendon reported that the facility committee has been meeting monthly and working with architect Kent Harris, but no plans have come to the board.

He expects the committee to bring a recommendation soon and asked the board to consider what method of construction to use.

The board has looked at gyms and classrooms additions before, and the committee needs updated price estimates.

Rod Sidebottom with Gallagher Construction has been working with the committee at no charge. He said the committee explored a wide range of options.

He outlined for the board the construction manager agent method of building, which is slightly different from the construction manager at-risk (CMAR) method many districts have used in recent years.

The board voted to use the manager agent method and to hire Sidebottom’s firm. The vote was 4-1 with Brad Lennon opposed.

Lennon posed several questions about the additional risk to the district as compared to the CMAR method.

One advantage to the agent, Sidebottom explained, is the firm becomes involved in the process much earlier, which would improve the ability to make changes.

Trustees also agreed to continue with the incentive-retention-recruitment pay for staff that is handed out in December. It will be at least at last year’s level, possibly larger.

The board also agreed to seek bids to double the size of the high school parking lot. McClendon noted that when the student drop-off traffic pattern was altered this year, high school students moved to the front parking lot, and that lot is about full, causing some traffic for the junior high to back up onto US Hwy. 69.

Trustees agreed to seek a waiver for the summer feeding program and inform patrons that the Mineola ISD program would be available.

High School Principal Macie Thompson reported that the failing rate was very low for the first grading period, which she said was aided by tutorials and intervention time.

She noted that the UIL snap shot for attendance to determine conference alignments was taken recently, and Alba-Golden reported 229 high schoolers. The cut off two years ago was 230.