GISD interviews architects for construction project

The Graham ISD Board of Trustees heard presentations from CADCO Architects & Engineers and Harper Perkins Architects Wednesday as part of an interview process to choose an architect for a construction project within the district. The proposed project would involve a grade realignment and changes to multiple campuses within the district.

CADCO Architects & Engineers and Harper Perkins Architects made their presentations and spoke on the projects they have completed and in progress in other school districts. The companies also spoke on what they offer to districts that utilize their services. The board took no action on choosing an architect for the proposed project and tabled action until their next meeting Wednesday, Sept. 14 to review the quotes presented by each company.

In June 2021, the Graham ISD Board of Trustees approved Huckabee Architects to conduct a facility study regarding a possible grade configuration change for elementary schools within the district. Huckabee Architects recently advised GISD that it will not be able to provide architectural services on a campus renovation project which could lead to a bond election in May 2023.

The board is looking to establish a community facility committee to review the facility study for the project and help with the communication efforts regarding the project. The board amended the district budget for $30,000 in June 2021 for the facility assessment from Huckabee Architects, with half the amount expended during the previous budget year and $15,000 approved to be expended during the current fiscal year. GISD Superintendent Sonny Cruse said the new company will have to use the previous assessment for architectural services.

“We’re not starting over with a facility capacity study, (the company chosen) has to be comfortable that (their) going to work with that. As soon as the board picks (a company), we’re gonna sit down and have a lot of conversation about what data was given to us from that and you regurgitate it and think about it and put your numbers on those projects, you know, what they’re seeing, and then we’re going to talk about it and get our goals in mind,” Cruse said. “(...) We’ve got to get (...) to the committee concept, because (...) before the end of this week, I’m going to send you that list to the committee from the last time so you kind of see what kind of people that were picked. (...) Because that’s the next group that the board has to bring to us, is people that you would like to serve on that facility needs committee, evaluation committee, decision committee, bond committee, whatever you want to call it. But eventually, what you want that committee to turn into, from an education committee learning about the needs of the district, to (...) a group that does become a political action committee that comes to the board and says, ‘We encourage the board to call for election for the purpose of we want you to build this.’”

For the full story, see the Saturday, Sept. 10 edition of The Graham Leader.