Reprint from the Progress Times - August 1, 2008
©Progress Times 2008 - All Rights Reserved

 

Mission approves junior high expense

 

The Mission Consolidated Independent School District (MCISD) approved a request for an allowance expenditure for the soon to be completed Rafael Cantu Junior High School during a special called meeting on Wednesday, July 30.

According to district architect Marta Salinas-Hovar, the $24,824.10 is needed to add three additional building letters, three additional water taps on the irrigation system, modifications for the trainer’s office and additional millwork for the training room.

“We met with the landscape architect, contractor and maintenance and we all agreed that we should add the additional taps to the irrigation line for ease in operating the system,” Salinas-Hovar said.

Salinas-Hovar also said the contract for the $15 million junior high will remain unchanged. The expense will come out of the district’s contingency allowance.

Also on the agenda was another request for an allowance expenditure for the Mission High School renovation project of Neuhaus Gym.

Rudy Molina of Milnet Architectural Services said the $31,605 expense will go towards adding a new fire hydrant, a section of additional fire line and a new fire department connection.

“Originally we had met with the fire marshal and we were required to add a sprinkler system because we didn’t have it originally,” Molina said. “We were tying into an existing loop in the campus. After we drew up the plans, he asked us to loop to a fire hydrant on the opposite side. So it’s creating another loop within the campus.”

The request was approved.

The board also heard a request to consider the creation of positions to include a project manager and clerk for the bond office.

Superintendent Oscar Rodriguez said the purpose behind the positions was to help alleviate the workload associated with the district’s current bond projects. He also said the jobs would only last for the duration of the bond projects.

“If approved, those positions go on an employment agreement and the intent is for the duration of the bond,” Rodriguez said. “If the bond goes three, four or five years realistically then that is the extent of the position. At that point if there’s nothing else and the position can’t be absorbed, then the position ends.”

Board Secretary Moises Iglesias expressed his concerns with creating the positions, saying he believed the current staff could sufficiently handle the work.

“At this point I think we have the people that we need for the bond issues that we’re dealing with right now,” Iglesias said. “To be creating positions at this point, I don’t think would be the right thing to do.”

Rodriguez said the positions would not be created immediately. The district would first need to be notified by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) about whether or not money was available to fund the openings.

Board Member Oscar Martinez said the positions would help the district immensely in handling the numerous bond projects.

“I have seen these people work endlessly, and that is their job,” Martinez said. “But to tack on another 20 projects and not give them an extra clerk and project manager would be wrong. To me, I think it’s something we need to do.”

Board Vice President James Olivarez said he was not opposed to creating the positions, but suggested the board wait before doing so.

“I think the timing is wrong,” Olivarez said. “I don’t think it’s needed right now. The elementary is going to be finished, or is finished. The junior high is going to be finished. Let’s see where we are a few months from now.”

The board approved the measure five to one, with Iglesias voting against.