Trustees OK bids to construct LHS
"This is the biggest thing to happen to Lampasas in 50 years. This is the one item that starts the whole construction of the school. It's monumental. " -- Dr. Brant Myers Lampasas ISD superintendent
By LISA CARNLEY Staff Writer

The Board of Trustees Monday night passed the largest line item ever on a school board agenda with the approval of a guaranteed maximum price of $35,203,642 for construction of the new Lampasas High School campus.

The package includes everything from the floors to the roof, and a number of alternate items also were accepted.

"This was probably the most important item that has ever been on an agenda for the LISD," said Superintendent Dr. Brant Myers. "I've said time and again that this is the biggest thing to happen to Lampasas in 50 years.

"This is the one item that starts the whole construction of the school. It's monumental."

Myers said the LISD is fortunate to have had so many bids from contractors. "Every category had several bids. There was not one category that had just one bid. I don't think it could have been any better."

Alternate bids added to the high school construction project include practice fields for baseball, softball and football; an asphalt band practice field; field lighting; and security equipment and surveillance cameras.

"We want our kids to have everything they need on this campus," said Myers.

Lower bids were accepted for the school's tennis courts and bleachers, and a bid for dugouts was turned down because the cost is too high. The LISD will either re-bid the item or see if it can be built in-house for a lesser cost, Myers said.

The bid package approved Monday includes everything to construct a building -- from the littlest screw to the largest airconditioning units, said the superintendent.

Foundation work is just weeks away, and dirt work has been finished ahead of schedule, he added.

Also Monday night, resignations were accepted from Katie Gavlak and Wayne Hickenbottom, high school math teachers, and Paula D'Orsogna, special education teacher at Hanna Springs Intermediate.

Three were named to the Lampasas High School Alumni Scholarship Fund Committee: Alice Canales, Jeff Cockburn and J.W. Bear.

A large number of students and staff were recognized, with many accomplishments noted by the superintendent.

Betty Ann Whitis, a teacher with nearly 50 years in the LISD, was named Employee of the Month, along with Kenneth Higgins, a 12-year LISD employee.

A number of students were singled out for their UIL academic performances, and for band and choir accomplishments.

Trustees also agreed to a called meeting May 19 to canvass votes and reorganize the board after May 10 balloting. Two LISD board seats are up for election.

In a preliminary report on the reading scores from Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills tests for grades three, five and eight, the LISD fared well, said Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Nelda Fortune.

Students who did not pass have two more chances to raise their scores.

Eighth-graders had a 100 percent passing rate, while fifthand third-graders had an 82 percent and 94 percent passing rate, respectively. Both third- and eighth-grade students scored well above the state's average passing rate, while fifth-graders were near the state average.

Math testing is being conducted this week.

The board will meet again May 5 at 6 p.m. in the District Administration Building. Among the agenda items will be an update on building projects.