From SOS: Half a Million Being Used to Relocate FBISD Portables (Sienna Schools to get its share)-

SOS reports from a Chronicle piece earlier this week that Sienna area schools will be getting many of the shifting temporary-buildings in the district as population booms. See this SOS report from the Chronicle (click title above for more):

FBISD to relocate portable classrooms-

Hightower, Garcia and Scanlan Oaks to get most buildings
By SESHADRI KUMAR Chronicle Correspondent

Fort Bend ISD trustees Monday night approved a $579,000 contract to relocate portable classroom buildings "due to student population shifts and rapid student growth."

The relocation of the portable buildings cannot be handled internally because the district facilities department has maintenance work to do and cannot install the portables within an acceptable time, said Lee Petros, associate superintendent of facilities and planning.

The schools slated to get the portable classrooms are Hightower High School (5), Kempner High School (1), Garcia Middle School (3), Goodman Elementary (2), Oakland Elementary (2) and Scanlan Oaks Elementary (3).

The portables will be relocated from Austin and Clements high schools; Lake Olympia Middle School; and Barbara Jordan, E.A. Jones, Mission Glen, Burton, Barrington Place and Palmer elementary schools.

Board members had a series of questions on the portable classrooms.

Trustee Laurie Caldwell referred to the problems faced earlier during a similar relocation when items were not removed from the classrooms before transporting them. Also, some of the buildings were infested with insects, she said, and the electrical wiring and other cables were not completed on time.

Petros said such problems would not occur as the turnkey project includes moving the buildings to new sites; building sidewalks, decks, ramps and canopies; providing electrical service and installing the PA system intercoms, fire alarms and data cables.

Trustee Cynthia Knox asked why the administration did not invite bids for the project. Petros said the nature of the job was such that it could be done under the job-order contract program, unlike school construction, with an existing approved vendor, and without inviting bids. The bid process would have delayed the project very much, he said.

Petros told the board that the contract calls for completion of the job by the end of November.
Trustee Stan Magee said he was not confident that the job could be completed by November. He asked Petros why the administration always waited until the last minute, instead of taking timely action to move the buildings. The board has received many calls and e-mails from parents about crowding in schools, he said. . . (click title link to get more).