PHOTO BY LISA CARNLEY Michael Nelson of NR architects of Dallas shows an overview of what a bond issue could accomplish for the Lometa ISD during a community forum Monday night in the Lometa school cafetorium. Lometa Independent School District voters have a lot to consider after a presentation Monday night on a possible bond issue of approximately $4.75 million to fund construction and renovation projects.

Michael Nelson of NR architects of Dallas and Ron Greiner, representing Government Capital Securities, were in Lometa for the community meeting to explain the project and show financing options.

Lometa ISD Board President Tommy Maddox opened the meeting with two of seven trustees present.

“This is a fact-finding, community participation event. It is very informal and is to help the community understand what the board is thinking about doing,” he said.

Superintendent David Rice said the event was not a “high-powered sale to vote for a bond issue.”

“We are going to tell you what we feel the need is,” he said.

Rice said the session would be followed by a meeting of trustees next week and formation of a project committee. “The committee will meet a couple of times in February to tell us what they feel the community wants; for example, if we need a new gym, or additional classrooms, etc.”

In late February, another community meeting will be scheduled, said the superintendent. “At that meeting, we will gauge the support. You [the community] have got to be stakeholders in this.

“There are people here who will go for this 100 percent, and there are those who are opposed 100 percent, while others are undecided,” he said. “We are open to suggestions. This is not dyed in stone. The community has to be happy with what we do.

“We don’t want to do anything if the community is not happy with it. We want overwhelming input and support if we do this project.”

Rice began the presentation by telling the audience that Lometa has “dilapidated places for our kids to be educated. We need classroom space for our kids to be educated in a nice environment.”

He also noted the need for a new science lab, saying the current facility is not sufficient.

Also on the project list is a gymnasium, said the superintendent. “The one we have now is not adequate, and there is inadequate seating. People stay home from games because they don’t want to sit in the gym. We have sanded the floor until it can’t be sanded any more.”

Rice said replacing the floor could cost from $75,000 to $100,000, and that would do nothing to solve the gym’s insufficient seating.

“Our kids ask us questions like, ‘When we go to Evant and Priddy, why do they have a nice gym, and we have to play on what we’re playing on?’ That’s a legitimate question.”

Rice then mentioned the concession stand.

“The best thing that could happen to it is to bulldoze it over. It is an embarrassment,” he said, noting the district had to bring in portable restrooms because the others cannot be repaired.

In summary, Rice said the bond project would cover three needs: academics, pride and athletics.

The superintendent noted that a number of the district’s facilities do not meet ADA standards but because of the school’s age, it does not have to comply with the same standards as newer facilities.

Compliance factors change every year, he said.

Addressing the lack of adequate science facilities, Rice said: “We don’t have up-to-date technology. We have got good science kids, but that lab is going to hold some of our kids back. It’s great for simple things, but we need to be better equipped. Our lab is our kids’ limitation. We have to address that whether we build a gym or not.”

Several audience members agreed with Rice, saying the priority should be additional classroom space.

The superintendent noted that Lometa ISD is the one small school in the area that is not declining in enrollment. “Evant, San Saba and Cherokee are all declining, but we have an average daily attendance of 282.”

An audience member suggested that instead of replacing what Lometa has, it should build eight classrooms. “We need to build what we want now, and don’t come back in 10 years and need more.

“Construction costs are down, and now is the time.”

The architect agreed. “About two years ago, we bid a project in Comanche at $116 per square foot. We bid a job a year ago in Millsap that was $175 a square foot. But now, with the recession and contractors so hungry, we could probably bid about $125 to $130 per square foot,” he said. “While we can’t forecast the future, after the first of next year the project could grow by 8 to 10 percent.

“The worst-case scenario is $145 per square foot, which is still a considerable savings from over a year ago.”

Nelson said a project of the scope Lometa is considering would take about a year to complete. “Though it’s hard to predict what the economy will do, we’re looking at costs inching up over the next several months. Right now, contractors’ costs and most materials are down. Now is when you will get the best bang for your buck. It’s better than we’ve seen in a long time.”

Preliminary figures show the $4.75 million bond issue breakdown as follows.

For $3.7 million:

• a 23,500-square-foot gymnasium that would seat 475.

• gym storage. • a lobby area with public restrooms, concession stand, storage and custodial space.

• boys’ varsity locker room with showers, a restroom and storage.

• boys’ junior varsity locker room with showers and restroom.

• girls’ varsity showers and restroom.

• girls’ junior varsity showers and restroom.

• laundry room. • a training room.

• a weight room.

For $455,000, a renovation area of 6,200 square feet would contain:

• science lab/lecture hall. • prep room. • chemical storage. • student restrooms. • three classrooms remodeled.

• two classrooms painted.

Paved parking area for $250,000; architect and engineering fees of $275,000; and survey/testing costs of $70,000.

Other discussion centered around a new track and bleachers, but the superintendent said he preferred to seek out grant funding for the project to free up more money for academic and athletic facilities.

“Our board takes very good care of the taxpayers’ money,” Rice said.

He added that the district was able to pay off a 15-year, $850,000 note for its cafetorium, stage and related facilities in less than five years.

Said the architect, who also built the cafetorium project: “We will work to figure out the most costeffective way to do the projects the school district wants, but we need input from everyone to see what they want to accomplish here.”