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Final contract is awarded for eastside high school by VISD

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  • Rubi Reyes •
  • Originally published July 18, 2008 at 8:16 a.m., updated July 18, 2008 at 8:16 a.m.

All five contracts for the five new schools in the Victoria school district have been awarded.

The contract for the eastside high school was awarded to Prime Contractors, Inc. of Houston for $42,810,000.

“We are still looking for other deductions that can be made without changing the look of the school,” said Ron Leach, chief operations officer for the district.

The awarded contracts for the schools are over the original planned prices the district set because of rising costs of construction said Diane Boyett, communication specialist for the district.

Throughout the contract awarding process board members expressed concern that there might not be enough money in the bond package to pay for all the projects.

However, Ron Leach was able to put their concerns to rest at the July 8 special meeting when he said the district had about $9 million in estimated interest on investments.

He estimated the school would have $26 million available after the awarded contracts of the five schools.

“It is very clear that revenue is vital and the $9.9 million is vital,” said Bob Moore, superintendent for the district. “We can do everything with the $159 million bond.”

Throughout the summer the district has awarded the contracts for the four other schools to Don Krueger Construction.

The west site high school and middle school contract were awarded for $61 million at the July 8 meeting.

The two elementary school contracts were awarded at the June 19 regular board meeting for $19 million.

Groundbreaking for the elementary school on 4208 Lone Tree Road will be Wednesday, Aug. 6 at 9 a.m. and the elementary on 2654 Mallette will be Thursday, Aug. 7 at 9 a.m.

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 district events center.

The deadline for opening the schools is August 2010.

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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Comments

  • Bundy Bundy Report a ViolationReport a Violation Permalink  | 

    Diane Boyett is such a liar. Less than $43 mil is NOT higher than the original proposed price tags of the 2 high schools. The original price was $46 mil for each school. I went to the board meeting where the bond plan was approved for the ballot, and I still have the propagandist paper they distributed. I know I can not be the only person with this information in my possession.
    The previous poster is definitely on the right track. The east side school will be far inferior to the west side school. This was the deal that the board members and the CAD struck with the upper crust of Victoria. Everyone needs to closely examine the tax values of the homes on the west side of the split versus the massive increases to the properties on the east side of the split.
    They had the nerve to give the east side the lesser school, then make them foot the lion's share of the bill.
    Let this be a lesson to all of you non-voters and yes voters on bond issues. Once the bond is passed, the voter has relinqished all control.
    It is shameful what the VISD board and the CAD board has done to this town.

    July 21, 2008 at 6:20 p.m.
  • Barry Barry Report a ViolationReport a Violation Permalink  | 

    "The west site high school and middle school contract were awarded for $61 million at the July 8 meeting". I am curious now as to the money allotted for the west high school alone and how it compares with the allotment for the east high school. Will it be equal or will we be headed back to the days of VHS and Stroman?

    July 18, 2008 at 2:34 p.m.