Mineola ISD board forges ahead with new campus

By Phil Major
publisher@wood.cm
Posted 3/30/23

Mineola school trustees bit the bullet Thursday and agreed to forge ahead with construction of a new primary campus on NE Loop 564, including a third-grade wing.

The campus, which had been …

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Mineola ISD board forges ahead with new campus

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Mineola school trustees bit the bullet Thursday and agreed to forge ahead with construction of a new primary campus on NE Loop 564, including a third-grade wing.

The campus, which had been projected to cost just under $20 million when it was approved last May, has risen closer to $30,000,000 thanks primarily to construction and materials inflation.

That leaves the remaining projects in the bond in limbo, especially the $4 million targeted to revamp the elementary campus into a high school career and technical education center.

Though the principal debate for Thursday’s special meeting was whether to include the third grade at the new campus, as originally proposed, board members also discussed how to proceed with the additional projects.

Once the primary is completed – projected in 14-18 months – the current primary will require some retrofits to accommodate older students when the fourth and fifth graders move in.

Replacing the auto mechanics shop at $1.2 million was identified as a likely next project.

Trustee Glen Dossett noted that a study identified the auto shop as the worst ISD facility, and said that if the district does not replace it “we’re in trouble.”

Superintendent Cody Mize ran through possible funds that could help with some of the projects.

There is a potential savings on the dirt work at the site.

The district’s most recent project of a new $2 million high school band hall was paid for from the district’s $8 million fund balance, and that money has been replaced by federal COVID-relief dollars.

Business Manager William Bjork said using those funds again would be fine.

Mize noted the primary bid includes more than $1 million in contingencies.

“We may use it and we may not use it,” he said. The construction account also continues to draw interest, projecting another $400,000 to be available.

Architect Perry Thompson said the goal is always to complete projects under budget and ahead of schedule, without any problems.

He said most recent projects in the area have returned some funds.

Trustee Robbie Ballard questioned when the district could address converting the elementary school to a CTE center.

Mize said, “We might not get everything we want done right off the bat.”

Trustee Janice Etheridge said, “If we don’t stick with what’s in the bond we won’t get the next one passed.”

In debating whether to approve the $1.6 million for the third-grade wing, Trustee Todd Morgan said he has been in the construction business 30 years and always tells customers to build now because it will be more expensive later.

He added there are some big neighborhoods coming into the area.

If third grade is not moved to the new campus, it greatly reduces the district’s flexibility for future growth, Mize said.

Construction is expected to begin in early April.

The district hopes to plan a ground breaking event the week that the community celebrates its sesquicentennial around May 20.

Also included in the proposed bond was $1 million in upgrades to other vocational facilities and $250,000 to replace canopies.