VISD board awards west school contracts
Board holds off on awarding east high school contract
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Ron Leach, the Victoria school district’s chief operations manager, urged the board not to award the east high school contract just yet.
Leach said he is still negotiating figures and deductions with Prime Contractors, Inc. out of Houston, one of two companies that submitted bids for the east school.
The west high school and middle school contract were awarded to Don Krueger Construction of Victoria for $61 million.
“We will continue to negotiate prices with Krueger construction and get a contract together,” Leach said.
The new schools are a part of the $159 million bond that was approved by voters in May 2007.
Included in the bond are two new high schools, a new middle school, two elementary schools, an addition to Crain Middle School, capital improvements and a district events center.
The two new elementary schools contracts were also awarded to Don Krueger Construction for a little more than $19 million. Four companies submitted bids for one elementary school and five for the other.
“It’s really good that Kruger construction was awarded four schools,” Leach said. “They will work with a lot of companies in Victoria.”
Before the board awarded the contract, they had some questions that they wanted answered about some of the cost saving deductions.
“I am concerned about the four foot high porcelain tile wainscot hallways,” said Lou Svetlik, school board member.
Krueger construction representatives gave examples of schools that had the same kind of walls and assured the board that the porcelain tile wainscot walls would be suitable for the schools. The representative stated that the porcelain would only be four feet high because that is the part of the walls that receive the most damage.
“We have one chance to get this right and I think we need to weigh out all our options,” Svetlik said in reference to the construction of the schools.
The board and Leach are feeling the pressure put on by the August 2010 deadline to open the schools and are hoping to award the East high school contract at the next meeting.
“We have to keep up with negotiations,” said Ray Walden, board president in reference to the bid proposal made by Prime Contractors. “We need to act on this and act on it as soon as we can.”
The next school board meeting will be July 17 at 6 p.m. at the Administration building.
“We need to think about the August 2010 deadline to get the schools open and ready for the students,” said Benard Klimist, board vice president.
Rubi Reyes is a reporter for the Advocate. Contact her at 361-580-6578 or rreyes@vicad.com or comment on this story at www.VictoriaAdvocate.com.
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When this bond was originally pitched, didn't VISD promise that the class of 2010 would graduate from the new schools? How easily they throw a year away...
July 11, 2008 at 2:30 p.m.Did all of you commenting here vote in the bond election?
July 11, 2008 at 2:20 p.m.I agree with "leftthistown". It seems that Krueger is way overextended. If I am not mistaken I think they are the contractors handling all the renovations and new construction at Victoria College too. I question why one high school is to be awarded to Krueger while the other is going to a company from Houston. I wonder who builds the better school? Are we headed back to the days of VHS and Stroman and the inequities that went with all that? If so, it is sad.
July 11, 2008 at 2:12 p.m.look at Finley Hill. a waste in 2 yrs. when the 2 schools are done who the heck is gonna use the running hill? the kids will practice at thier campus and Finley Hill will sit there.
leach, finley should have waited 2 yrs and built one for each HS. They aren't gonna have bleachers to run (practice fields only) so a hill would be appropiate like in the metro ISD's. Are we gonna bus the kids just to run Finley Hill??
July 11, 2008 at 1:20 p.m.I am concerned about the four foot high porcelain tile wainscot hallways, said Lou Svetlik, school board member.
I am absolutely miffed!!!!!! You are a board member, not the contractor or an architect. Your job as a board member is done....... Mr. Svetlik. This is precisely the ridiculous micromanagement that got VISD in trouble in the first place. Are you freaking kidding me.....I can hardly beleive there is a debate over porceline walls that is delaying these projects. Someone in the name of VISD please tell me why a Board member would even be involved in the design process???????? I am not from Victoria, but I quickly understand why this place is so backwards. Crap like this is unheard of anywhere but this little podunk, backwards, town. Someone please tell this board that they only hire and approve contractors, vendors, and others. They do not dictate the design process. Remove yourselves and let the professionals build the dang schools. I am absolutely blown the heck away, with the notion that a freaking school board member is even involved in this discussion!
July 11, 2008 at 10:48 a.m.So, wonder how long it will take to get these schools up & running with Kreuger getting the bulk of them? Anyone notice how long it has taken them to finish the Citizens building off the loop? How many years has it been since they started? I don't think a year & a half is going to be long enough.
July 9, 2008 at 1:05 p.m.