By CASEY ADAMS
Cove Leader-Press
Copperas Cove Independent School District continues to move forward with millions of dollars in facility improvements across the district, with trustees expected to consider the next phase of work at Copperas Cove Junior High School during a special meeting in September.
Superintendent Dr. Brent Hawkins provided an update on capital projects during a special called workshop meeting of the CCISD Board of Trustees Monday.
Hawkins said approximately $24 million has passed through the funding mechanism previously approved by trustees for district projects.
Some of the revenue came from insurance proceeds, he said, while other expenditures reflect the board’s effort to address facility needs.
“A lot of it was you as a trustee wanting to move the standards for a district and address some of the things that need to be addressed,” Hawkins told the board.
Among the projects underway is a transition to LED lighting at district campuses not included in bond-funded improvements.
Hettie Halstead Elementary School was the first campus to receive the lighting work, with Hawkins saying the project there isexpected to be completed by Friday.
Four elementary school playground projects have also been completed.
At S.C. Lee Junior High School, Hawkins said the track has been painted and the remaining striping work is expected to follow. Roofing work is also underway at the campus.
Hawkins said CCISD has completed a substantial amount of roofing and HVAC work across the district, improvements that may not be as noticeable as other construction projects but address aging infrastructure.
“The thing about doing work on HVACs and roofs, nobody really gives you a high five for it until they fail,” Hawkins said.
Some of the improvements could also lower future operating costs.
Hawkins pointed to HVAC units at J.L. Williams/Lovett Ledger Elementary School, saying the replacement units have a higher SEER rating than the equipment originally installed at the facility. The increased efficiency could result in energy savings for the district.
Attention is also turning toward Copperas Cove Junior High School and the upcoming bond funded project.
Hawkins said district officials conducted a walkthrough of the campus with subcontractors last week as plans move toward establishing a guaranteed maximum price for the project.
Trustees are expected to consider that price during a special called meeting in early September.
An alternate has also been added to the project concerning the HVAC configuration in some classrooms.
Hawkins said some existing HVAC equipment runs along classroom windows, a configuration common in older buildings. He and district administrators believe trustees should have the option of moving that equipment into the ceiling as part of the work.
“There’ll be some decisions to make as we look at that and try to figure out a path forward,” Hawkins said.
He encouraged trustees to walk through the junior high before considering the project’s guaranteed maximum price, noting that seeing classrooms without furniture provides a different perspective on the condition and layout of the building.
“I think it’s better to see than in picture, to some degree, the before,” Hawkins said.
The board is expected to receive additional information before considering the Copperas Cove Junior High School project in September.
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