Bond Oversight Committee – Status Report 7/30/2013
HISD’s Bond Oversight Committee received a detailed update of the district’s 2012 and 2007
bond programs during its second-quarter meeting on July 30, including reports on finances,
planning, communications, M/WBE goals and project statuses for April, May and June 2013.
The independent committee was established to monitor the district’s bond programs, ensuring
that bond revenues are spent appropriately, and to evaluate the risks and controls of the bond
program.
The district reorganized the group’s charter in December 2012 to give it more oversight
responsibility, including independent and periodic reports to the superintendent, the Board of
Education and the general public. This report is intended to fulfill that requirement.
Executive Summary
This spring and summer have been busier than ever for architects and construction companies
working for the district. More than 60 building projects were underway after the school year
ended on June 6, another milestone in the 2007 bond program, which includes more than 180
expansion, renovation and maintenance projects.
When students return from summer vacation, they can expect to find renovated restrooms at
Wainwright Elementary School and work continuing on additions at Southmayd Elementary
School. Much work will not be immediately visible, such as the improved HVAC systems at T.H.
Rogers K-8 and Revere Middle School, and new fire, PA, and security systems at Deady Middle
School.
Even as many renovation projects begin, the district expects to finish two of the three new
schools under construction as part of the 2007 bond program. Both Dogan and Atherton
Elementary Schools are scheduled to open for students in August. Sherman Elementary will
transition into its new facility in the fall semester.
Planning and design have progressed in the 2012 bond program. Design firms have been
selected for all schools within the first two phases of construction. Project Advisory Teams are
meeting regularly and district staff members are finalizing contract recommendations to
oversee construction work.
All architects selected in the 2012 program are committed to ensuring that buildings meet the
standards for LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design).
The goal of the 2012 bond program is to create 21st century learning environments that will be
flexible enough to serve generations of students, no matter the educational program or
technological needs.
Modern schools include increased natural light, shared activity spaces where students can
collaborate and study independently, flexible seating arrangements, and designs that mirror a
collegiate environment while maintaining supervision appropriate for high school students.
In developing 21st century schools, district administrators and staff recognize the importance of
ongoing conversations with educators, parents, students and community stakeholders on what
that vision means, both from design and educational programming perspectives.
While moving forward with planning and design work, the district is also preparing a quality
construction program through program manager and Construction Manager at Risk contracts.
As of June 30, The Board of Education authorized the district to negotiate contracts with five
firms to provide program management services: Heery International, Inc.; Jacobs Project
Management Co.; Kwame Building Group, Inc.; Rice Gardner Consultants, Inc.; and URS Corp.
HISD received 20 responses to its Request for Qualifications on May 14 from companies
interested in supplying Construction Manager at Risk services on four schools being renovated
under the 2012 bond program.
The projects include Waltrip High School, Worthing High School, and North Early College and
South Early College high schools. Contract recommendations were submitted to the Board of
Education for review at its July 18 meeting.
More CMAR contract recommendations are expected in the coming months.
As the district brings forward contract recommendations to the Board of Education, the goal is
to leverage Houston’s workforce by encouraging participation in both the 2007 and 2012 bond
programs from minority and women-owned business enterprises.
In the 2007 program, the M/WBE commitment from all firms has reached 35 percent. In the
2012 program, the contracts awarded to date reflect a 51 percent M/WBE commitment.
HISD is looking at ways to help M/WBEs strengthen their business positions, including
partnering with the City of Houston, METRO and Port of Houston Authority on the Interagency
Mentor-Protégé Program, which started in June. The goal is to create long-term relationships
between mentors and protégés through professional guidance and business support and
development.
In keeping with the mandate to advocate fair and equitable opportunities for the participation
of M/WBEs in construction and professional services, HISD intends to contract staffing services
on an as-needed basis, in order to assist the HISD Business Assistance Department with
assessing M/WBE participation in the Bond program.
Both bond programs continue to operate within budget and on schedule. The 2007 program is
winding down, with most of the unspent funding available to finish all designed projects by the
end of 2014.
Plans for the 2012 Capital Program are to expend $1.89 billion over the next 8 years, as the
bond issues have been planned in four different sales. The first tranche was sold in February
2013 for $340 million. The second will be sold for $700 million, scheduled for third quarter
2014; the third, for $415 million in the first quarter of 2015; and the final tranche, for $435
million in the first quarter of 2016. All 2012 projects include inflationary dollars to protect
against unforeseen price increases.
As the 2012 bond program moves forward, the goal is to ensure community engagement
through timely and accurate information. The communications team is fulfilling that goal with
through web updates, eNews articles, email blasts, press releases, fliers, Academic Services
memos, pamphlets, targeted mailers, community outreach events, webinars, social media,
videos, and blogs. The bond eNewsletter, Building Excellence, recently won an Award of
Excellence from the National School Public Relations Association.
The next steps for the district include:
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Moving forward with additional CMAR recommendations on 22 school projects and
district athletic facility upgrades
Starting construction work on the early college high schools
Continuing the planning and design work with the architects and Project Advisory Teams
Opening two new schools built under the 2007 bond program (Dogan and Athertown
elementary schools) for the 2013-2014 school year; a third elementary school
(Sherman) will be ready for students in the fall.
Completing site-specific Ed Specs for Group 1 and Group 2 schools
In conclusion, the district’s bond programs are:
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Progressing on schedule and within budget
Embracing 21st century learning tools and strategies
Exceeding goals for M/WBE participation
Encouraging community engagement
Operating with transparency and accountability