LISD superintendent awarded three-year contract extension
By LISA CARNLEY Staff Writer

From a contract extension to naming a campus, Lampasas Independent School District Board of Trustees met Monday night to handle a variety of agenda items.

Following an executive session, board members agreed to extend Superintendent Dr. Brant Myers' contract to June 30, 2011. No salary increase was tied to that, as Myers received an additional stipend several months ago.

Trustees James Briggs, Andrew Irvin, Wesley Crow, Ron Farr, William Haisler Jr. and Kirk Whitehead approved the contract extension, while Max Keele abstained from voting.

Board members also agreed to let Myers handle the purchase of just over two acres of land to grant access to the new high school facility on U.S. Highway 281 South.

In other business, Whitehead, a liaison to a campusnaming committee for the new elementary school in the county's east end, said committee members unanimously approved Taylor Creek Elementary for the prekindergarten through fifth-grade campus.

Whitehead said Taylor Creek figures prominently into Lampasas County's history, and that it is an appropriate choice. Board members agreed the name is well-suited to the new campus.

In an update on the bond project for the high school campus, trustees gave the district's architectural firm, O'Connell Robertson, authorization to release plans for advertising and to move forward with the bidding process contingent upon 100 percent completion of construction documents, expected to be Jan. 22.

Keele requested the district look at alternate roofing materials before seeking bids. And unhappy with the size of the proposed ag facility at the new campus, he voted against proceeding with the bidding process.

Myers noted the new campus is right on schedule. The next phase will see construction start in March for the high school that is expected to be ready for occupancy in August 2009.

In an item he said seemed problematic, Crow told his colleagues he was contacted by Baird Williams, the project manager at risk, who relayed that the construction company is finding it difficult to get electrical contractors to bid on the new high school campus.

Crow, an electrical contractor himself, said he is disappointed there are not many local contractors large enough to handle the job.

He also noted that booming construction in Austin has many electrical contractors tied up, and they find enough work there to keep them from having to travel for jobs.

Baird Williams has asked Crow if he would consider bidding on the project if there are not enough bidders in the pool.

Briggs, president of the LISD board, said the district's lawyers determined it is legal for Crow to bid on the job. "He is local and big enough to handle the project," said Briggs.

Crow said he has some concerns. "It just doesn't feel right to me," said the trustee, noting that just two electrical contractors have showed an interest in the project.

"Typically, you want about five or six bidders on a job this size," Crow said. "But if there are only two, I am concerned with that. I'm not sure me bidding on this job is the wisest thing to do, but if I could save the district a substantial amount of money if I was the low bidder, then I might do it."

Crow said he plans to run for his school board seat in May, and he is concerned about the public's perception of a possible bid.

Added Crow: "If there were any contractors in Lampasas large enough to handle this, I'd certainly step aside. For obvious reasons, it's hard for me to consider this."

The trustee provided the construction official with names of firms large enough to handle the high school project. "It's a big job, and not a lot of contractors can handle it, and that limits the contractors who could bid."

The superintendent noted the district is in a tight situation financially, and it could benefit from Crow's expertise if his firm were the low bidder.

"If his bid comes in at a substantially lower bid, that would save us money, and with Crow, we would have an extra set of experienced eyes on the job."

Myers also said that local contractors being awarded jobs keeps the money in the Lampasas school district. "Wesley has an interest in the school district. He has kids in school here. I realize there could be a negative perception of a board member working on a project and making money from that, but he is a businessman, and if he is the low bidder, it could save us a substantial amount of money.

"That could be the best thing for the district, especially if we only have two bidders."

Briggs reminded the audience that a board member who is in negotiation for work is not allowed to be part of the bidding process on that particular project. He cannot participate in the discussion, and he cannot vote.

"If we end up with five substantial bidders, I won't bid it," said Crow. "I am really struggling with this."