HERE IS AN INTERESTING VOTE:

(Looks like a small school district on the border has more sense than the Katy ISD school board!MM)

BISD trustees tap Brownsville architects for $50 million project

Posted: Wednesday, March 21, 2007 12:00 am | Updated: 1:19 pm, Fri Feb 8, 2013.

AARON NELSEN, The Brownsville Herald

Local architectural firm Gomez Mendez Saenz has been awarded the contract to design Brownsville’s newest high school.

Trustees voted 5-2 during Tuesday’s board meeting to award the contract to the company.

The board voted down the administration’s recommendation by the same margin earlier this month to award the contract to the architectural firm PBK.

“(The administration has) not changed our mind as to which firm we believe is the best,” said Superintendent Hector Gonzales. “But, in the best interest of the district and moving forward we are willing to recommend Gomez Mendez Saenz.”

The company is a Brownsville-based firm that designed Lopez High School, Champion, Gallegos and Burns elementary schools and Perkins and Vela middle schools.

According to a qualification and ranking form, administration ranked PBK first among 11 bids received and Gomez Mendez Saenz second.

The form considers high school design experience, the firm’s ability and capability to perform the work, location and accessibility of the firm to the district, and overall school design, among other qualifications before reaching a decision.

The citizen bond oversight committee also used the qualification and ranking form to rank the bids, but ranked Gomez Mendez Saenz first and PBK second.

The board of trustees and the superintendent appointed the citizen oversight committee to provide input and advice to the administration and the board on bond projects approved last May.

Voters approved four separate bond projects totaling $135 million, including $50 million for a new high school. The district has already purchased an 80-acre plot on Military Highway across from River Bend Resort for $1 million.

Board President Enrique Escobedo voted for the administration’s first recommendation of PBK, but against the administration’s second choice of Gomez Mendez Saenz.

Escobedo questioned whether board members were placing too much importance on the recommendation of the bond oversight committee and not enough in administration.

“At the end of the day (the oversight committee) goes its own way,” Escobedo said.

Escobedo added that since the superintendent will ultimately be held accountable for the success or failure of the bond project he would like to see Gonzales get the architectural firm of his choosing.

http://www.brownsvilleherald.com/news/local/article_fec95f26-1999-5198-a341-def18f632863.html