By LYNETTE SOWELL-STEVENS
Cove Leader-Press
During the regular meeting for the Copperas Cove ISD board of trustees, the board heard an update on the bond projects from two of the firms, Berry & Clay Construction Managers, and GLS Architecture-Engineering-Surveying.
Currently, the planning and design work has been under way for Copperas Cove Junior High School, Fairview/Miss Jewell Elementary, and Copperas Cove High School, the campuses that will be renovated with the funds.
Hudson Henderson, Vice-President of Architectural Design for GLS filled the board in first.
“An immense amount of work has been happening behind the scenes with several of our team members here on campus and touring the facilities again more in depth. I spent my morning this morning crawling above ceiling at the high school today, figuring out some information,” Henderson told the board. “We’ve been doing all of those necessary pieces to make sure that we are understanding the buildings in the way that we need to and planning them properly.”
Henderson told the board that there have been regular meetings, both in-person and virtual, with Superintendent Brent Hawkins, Deputy Superintendent Jimmy Shuck, and Deputy Superintendent Amanda Crawley.
He said that the CCJHS project will roll out first, followed by Fairview/Miss Jewell, followed by CCHS.
“We’re on target for the first week of July to deliver drawings to the construction manager for him to begin his process of reviewing those and pricing those, and then ultimately we’ll get those out to bid,” said Henderson. Then, they expect the Fairview/Jewell drawings to be delivered by early August, followed by the CCHS drawings in January 2027.
Board trustee Timothy Treager asked if the board would be able to see any blueprints or renderings of the first project.
Henderson said they would get to that point, but right now it is the technical portions of the project.
“Today we did a lot of finishes and brought a lot of physical samples, flooring, countertops and different things like that. Once all of those decisions are made, we’ll make a digital finish board, and we’ll be able to distribute that out.” He said there are components that will be shared, definitely at the high school, because of how much will be changed there, but after all the finishes have been selected for projects, they could provide those if there is something specific the board wanted to see.
Stephen Berry, of Berry & Clay Construction Managers, was also on hand to brief the board on Monday. Berry & Clay construct schools, performing arts centers, and sports facilities statewide.
“I think our biggest concern is how we’re going to make the junior high flow during campus time, during the school year. We’re looking at different avenues of how to renovate while we’re having class without disrupting students and staff,” said Berry.
The high school project, which officials described as the largest and most complex of the three, remains in design development and is expected to be ready for bidding in early 2027 after construction documents are completed in January.
Members of the original bond planning committee, who participated in evaluating district needs and establishing project priorities, will continue serving in an oversight capacity as construction progresses.
Superintendent Brent Hawkins thanked both companies’ reps for the work done so far.
He also addressed community involvement during the process.
“The committee will be revived as we go through the bond process, and construction starts. They’re the people who brought the recommendations, and so they’re going to be kind of a bond oversight committee that looks and sees, and comes back and talks to the board,” said Hawkins. He also noted the Golden Dawgs sa well as the Superintendent Student Advisory committee would be part of that process.
It was also reported that asbestos surveys and assessments will be conducted soon to identify any potential concerns before construction begins. The district has already completed extensive site documentation, including photographs and facility reviews, to support the planning process.
At the top of the agenda for Monday’s meeting was the swearing in of the interim trustee for Place 5, Mike Wilburn.
Board President Joan Manning said the board will miss former member Heather Copeland.
“I know Heather’s happy that he’s sitting up there in her spot, and when we said goodbye to Heather, we said we’re going to miss her greatly, but we won’t miss her much, because she’ll still be around,” Manning said.
Upon being sworn in, Wilburn briefly commented to Manning and the board.
“Ms. Manning, one of the things that I think I told you is that Copperas Cove schools have been my foundation, and anything I can do for the school system, I’m glad to do,” he said.
Wilburn will remain in Place 5 through the November 3, 2026 election. He was selected by Manning as a proposed interim and he was appointed unanimously by the board earlier this month.
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