Houston company 3DI's preliminary numbers show that Beaumont Independent School District would need to spend more than $329 million to repair existing schools and meet minimum educational needs.
The figure does not include many of the expenses that likely would be part of a final proposal, such as the elimination of portable buildings, construction of some district-wide facilities, replacement of some severely dilapidated buildings and allowances for inflation.
Johnnie Jordan, 3DI project manager, said he and his colleagues still are working on additional cost estimates based on various scenarios at the request of the Community Advisory Bond Committee. Other figures could change as the committee decides where to recommend combining schools, replacing schools, adding schools and upgrading schools. BEAUMONT - Taxpayers could approve borrowing $300 million to upgrade Beaumont schools and still not have nearly enough money to meet existing needs at today's costs, according to an outside study helping shape a developing bond proposal that could go to voters in a few months.
Houston company 3DI's preliminary numbers show that Beaumont Independent School District would need to spend more than $329 million to repair existing schools and meet minimum educational needs.
The figure does not include many of the expenses that likely would be part of a final proposal, such as the elimination of portable buildings, construction of some district-wide facilities, replacement of some severely dilapidated buildings and allowances for inflation.
Johnnie Jordan, 3DI project manager, said he and his colleagues still are working on additional cost estimates based on various scenarios at the request of the Community Advisory Bond Committee. Other figures could change as the committee decides where to recommend combining schools, replacing schools, adding schools and upgrading schools.
The professional assessment by 3DI of which schools are in the worst condition closely matches the observations of committee members so far, panel co-chairman Dr. David Teuscher said.
"Overall, I think we're getting very comfortable that we're getting good analysis and good information," Teuscher said. "We're sort of at the end of the beginning now."
For 23 campuses, the ratio between cost to replace and cost to repair is high enough to be considered critical, based on the 3DI report.
Amelia Elementary, built in 1913, is listed as the most critical with $9.7 million in needs and a replacement value estimated at $10.3 million.
Other elementary schools on the critical list are Lucas, Southerland, Blanchette, Caldwood, Field, Curtis, Fletcher, Dunbar, Martin, Ogden, Bingman, Regina-Howell and Price. Middle schools on the critical list are Marshall, Vincent, South Park, Odom, Austin and Smith. West Brook High School and the two alternative schools also are considered critical.
Even the schools considered in fair or good condition need millions of dollars in repairs and improvements, according to the study.
The vast scope of need might make asking voters to pay for everything at once impractical, causing committee members to possibly suggest asking voters for half the needed money now to meet the most pressing needs. In a few years, the district could come back with a second bond election after proving the district will spend the money as promised, Teuscher said.
"Personally, I have to look at that as a viable option," Teuscher said. "...There's only so much you can do at any one time."
Now, subcommittees are developing their proposals regarding the most pressing needs for each of the three age levels of schools and for other district facilities. The full committee next meets Saturday.
Then, the goal in early February is to develop a final recommendation and present it to the school board.
bgallaspy@beaumontenterprise.com
(409)
880-0726