Midland Independent School District (MISD) provided updates on its Bond 2023 projects with a focus on a new elementary school and the selection of an architecture and engineering firm for high school designs. Trustees convened at the meeting on January 16 to discuss key developments.
Crews have commenced work at the site earmarked for the new elementary school, situated in the Lone Star Trails area in northeast Midland. Soil sampling is underway to determine the foundation requirements for the facility.
A meeting involving district leaders, bond program managers, and representatives from special education, child nutrition services, transportation, and technology, along with principals from Fasken and Yarborough elementary schools, aimed to enhance the new school's design. According to the release from MISD, the input gathered from these representatives who are currently working in the similar buildings is a “critical step in improving the design.” The new elementary school is expected to open its doors in August 2025.
Trustees approved a pool of 12 qualified architecture and engineering firms to be considered for professional design services related to the 2023 Bond Program. A selection committee, comprising district leaders, evaluated a total of 18 submissions. Criteria included overall experience, specific project team expertise, capacity to meet program timelines, local experience, and past relations with the district. Pfluger Architects emerged as the chosen firm from the pool, tasked with designing the new Legacy High and Midland High school projects. Other firms in the approved pool include Parkhill, WRA Architects, MWM Architects, Jacob & Martin, DLR Group, Vandergriff Group Architects, JSA Architects, Chapman Harvey Architects, JDMA Architects, Corgan, and PBK Architects.
Trustees also sanctioned a pool of vendors for surveying and geotechnical services. Surveyors like Centurion Planning & Design, Enprotec/Hibbs & Todd, KMCE, Dunaway Associates, Halff Associates, and Maverick Engineering were selected. For geotechnical services, CQC Testing & Engineering, Millennium Engineers Group, Terracon, Magrym Consulting, and Terra Testing received approval.
With 22 submissions for the bond underwriting pool, the district administrators are set to review and present the pool of bond underwriters at the February board meeting. The bond order will be presented during the same meeting.
Updates on the bond's progress can be found at midlandbond2023.com.