The Longview ISD Board of Trustees approved a $2.31 million bid proposal from Hellas Construction to renovate the high school baseball and softball facilities, during a special-called meeting Wednesday, Aug. 25th.
According to the terms of the proposal, the conversion project will consist of removing the natural grass field, stabilizing the subgrade soil, installing an impermeable liner, underground drainage system, drainage aggregate, and then new synthetic turf surface.
The project is scheduled to be completed by Friday, Dec. 10th.
By installing a synthetic surface, the new turf will drain over ten inches an hour, resulting in fewer rainouts and game cancellations.
In addition, the baseball and softball fields will have new backstops, bullpens, new batting cage nets with turf, as well as new wing fencing at the baseball field. The fields will each have new Lobos logos designs and lettering.
Dr. Wayne Guidry, Assistant Superintendent of Finance, said Longview ISD received proposals from Symmetry Sports Construction ($2,286,400), Paragon Sports ($2,481,171), and Field Turf USA ($2,606,007) but the administration believes the $2,308,020 proposal from Hellas Construction 'was the best fit for this particular project.'
Click here to download the resolution and related documentation.
Budget and Tax Rate
Board members also held a public hearing before formally adopting the budget and tax rate for the 2021-22 school year.
Longview ISD is projecting a balanced General Operating budget of $87,756,621 and is reducing the property tax rate for the third straight year.
The proposed maintenance and operations tax rate is $.94170 and the interest and sinking tax rate is $.4730 cents for a total tax rate of $1.41470 per $100 valuation. The tax rate is a decrease from the 2020-21 rate, which was $1.4394 per $100 valuation.
Click here to download the 2021-22 district budget and tax rate.
In other business...
During the course of the meeting, the LISD Board of Trustees also:
- REJECTED a contract extension for custodial services with Southeast Services Corporation (SSC). The Dallas-based company currently handles janitorial services throughout the district.
- APPROVED the Time Use Tracker and official Minutes for the Aug. 9th Regular Meeting;
- APPROVED Region VII Contracted and Flow-Through Service Agreements for 2021-22;
- APPROVED the renewal of facility use contract with Child Evangelism Fellowship;
- APPROVED funding for the administration of the Iowa and CogAT assessments;
- APPROVED continuation of Communities in Schools contracts for 2021-22;
- APPROVED continuation of Local At-Risk Criterion for 2021-22; and
- APPROVED Budget Amendment No. 15.
For more info
Trustees usually meet in the boardroom of the LISD Education Support Center (1301 E. Young Street), but often set special-called meetings at various locations around the district. The next regular meeting is tentatively scheduled for 6 p.m. Sept. 13th.
For more information about the Longview ISD Board of Trustees please click here.
