Levelland ISD Superintendent Kelly Baggett and Chief Financial Officer Nick Williams, along with Parkhill, Smith and Cooper Architects and Engineers, Alan Wolf and Mike Baker and Vince Vialle from Specialized Public Finance presented the proposed bond package to members of the community Thursday night, (4/25/2013) in the Levelland Intermediate School Auditorium.
History of How we got to this point……
The Levelland ISD Administration began looking at needs in the district in the Fall of 2009 and then in Spring 2010 the board approved starting a modernization of Capital Elementary. In 2011 through February 2012 the administration conducted campus visits and compiled a list of needs to present to the board. In July 2012 the board hired architects and asbestos consultants to review facilities. In November 2012 a physical needs assessment of the facilities in the district was presented to the board with a total estimate of $30.7 Million. The board then formed a district facilities committee that met 4 times between December 2012 and February 2013. From those meetings an additional $8.8 Million dollars in bond needs was noted by the committee and architects who toured facilities. Those additional needs included asbestos abatement which was not included in the first estimate, classroom technology needs, and enhanced security needs. The committee met in February and voted 28-1 to recommend to the board of trustees that a 39.47 Million Dollar bond issued be called. Representatives from the Bond finance company recommended paying for it over a 25 year period.
Why a bond Issue Now…….
* Because it touches every child in Levelland ISD
* Improves 13 Different Facilities across the district
* Will Maximize the life of our existing buildings and add an additional 20-25 years to the current buildings according to estimates from Parkhill, Smith and Cooper. The Engineers and Architects presented information concerning the difference in cost for renovating vs new construction………
The cost to renovate the 13 facilities in the district would be $39.4 Million, based on estimates and the current cost of construction, building a new high school, intermediate, cactus academic center, 2 elementary campuses and Carver would cost an estimated $100 Million.
The needs being addressed in the bond issue includes renovations to the following:
High School–$8.7 Million
Ag Farm–$500,000
High School Fieldhouse–$940,000
Lobo Stadium–$7.3 Million
Middle School–$2.0 Million
Intermediate–$6.7 Million
Cactus–$2.4 Million
Capitol–$975,000
Carver–$1.2 Million
South–$4.0 Million
Administration Building–$675,000
Maintenance/Technology Building–$185,000
Levelland ABC–$100,000
District Wide Classroom Technology–$3.2 Million
Bond Sale and Underwriting Costs–$510,000
The following is a brief description of the work to be done at each campus:
Levelland High School Proposed Repairs and Renovations:
- Fire Alarm and Security System Upgrades and Improvements
- New Heating and Air Conditioning
- Masonry Brick Repair
- Handicap Accessible Restrooms
- Asphalt Paving
- Roofing
- New Ceilings, Lighting, Paint and Flooring
- New Gymnasium Lighting
- Full Renovation to Science Labs in the original part of the building
- Total Improvement at HS….$8,421,200
Levelland Intermediate School Proposed Repairs and Renovations:
- Fire Alarm and Security System Upgrades and Improvements
- New Heating and Air Conditioning
- Handicap Accessible Restrooms
- Replace Windows with Energy Efficient Windows
- Masonry Brick Repair
- New Bus Drive and Asphalt Paving
- New Ceilings, Lighting, Paint and Flooring
- Roofing
- Improve Gym Lighting
- Major reworking and replacing of electrical components to repair safety issues
- Replace Auditorium Seating
- Repair/Renovation of Science Labs
- Total Improvement at Intermediate…..$6,703,600
Cactus Academic Center Proposed Repairs and Renovations…..
- Fire alarm and security system upgrades and improvements
- New Heating and Air Conditioning
- New Energy Efficient Exterior Windows
- Masonry Brick Repair
- Handicap Accessible Restrooms
- New Electrical Panels
- Asphalt Paving
- Site Irrigation
- New Roofing
- New Ceiling, Lighting, Paint and Flooring
- Total Improvements at Cactus……$2,380,000
Capitol Elementary School Proposed Repairs and Renovations……
- New Heating and Air Conditioning
- New Energy Efficient Exterior Windows
- Brick Masonry Repairs
- Handicap Accessible Restrooms
- Site Irrigation
- Total Improvements at Capitol– $876,000
Carver Learning Center Proposed Repairs and Renovations……
- New Electrical Distribution Panels
- Upgrade and Improve Fire Alarm and Security System
- New Heating & Air Conditioning
- New Energy Efficient Exterior Windows
- Brick Masonry Repair
- Handicap Accessible Restrooms
- Site Irrigation
- Classroom Improvements
- New Ceilings, Lighting, Paint and Flooring
- Total Improvements at Carver–$1,195,000
South Elementary School Proposed Repairs and Renovations…..
- Upgrade and Improve Fire Alarm and Security System
- New Heating and Air Conditioning
- New Energy Efficient Exterior Windows
- Handicap Accessible Restrooms
- New Electrical Panels
- Improvements to Technology Infastructure
- Asphalt Paving
- Playground Irrigation
- Multi-purpose/Gym—Flooring and Finishes
- New Ceilings, Lighting, Paint and Flooring
- Total Improvements to South–$3,755,000
Overall Technology Needs across the district…..
- Infrastructure—Cabling, Wireless, Electronics
- Replacement Equipment—Smartboard Projectors, Document Cameras
- Classroom laptops & I-Pads
- Teacher Computers/Laptops
- Network Access Control & Virtualization
Safety & Security Includes……
- Fire Alarm System
- Smoke Compartmentalization—Intermediate Campus
- Closed Circuit TV Camera System
- Secure Vestibules added at some campuses
- Proximity Card Readers, electronic strikes on exterior doors
- Motion Sensors
Football Stadium would be re-built as part of this bond issue at a cost of 7.4 Million. It was noted that there are major safety issues at the current stadium and a repair would cost over 4 million dollars and would probably only delay the inevitable by 4-5 years according to professionals who have looked at the facility. It was also recently noted by a Texas Education Agency Site Visit that the Football Stadium is totally Unacceptable in their words and totally out of ADA compliance. It was pointed out at the community meeting that something has to be done to the stadium and other facilities in the district to bring them into compliance with ADA standards or the Texas Education Agency will take drastic measures.
Also included in the proposal is construction of a new tennis court and track at the Middle School—both items that were not part of the previous bond issue.
Levelland ISD and Specialized Public Finance presented information on the estimated impact of the bond on property taxes. The average value in 2012 for a home in Levelland was $85,044. Based on current taxable values, taxpayers would see an estimated tax rate increase of 13.5 cents per $100 property value on taxable property with the proposed bond issue. Residents 65 years of age and over are reminded that a over 65 exemption is available on your homestead property. To have this exemption you will need to sign a form at the Hockley County Appraisal office. With this exemption your value is capped at the value your homestead property is the year you apply for and are granted the exemption.
Superintendent Kelly Baggett ended the meeting by asking for the public’s help stating “This is not about me or the school board this is about the needs of our students.”
KLVT News 