What are the design phases? 

Programming, Schematic Design, Design Development and Construction Documents.

Programming (51 Days) - expands on the information documented in the “Sprint Start” by collecting, analyzing, synthesizing, and documenting all of the requirements for the project. Without a program, architects may deviate from the actual requirements and produce a facility that does not properly address the needs of the District.

Schematic Design (79 Days) - is the preliminary phase of design services to produce a diagrammatic representation of the project, including sketches of building exterior and selected interior spaces, outline-level specification of materials and finishes to be incorporated, general floor plans, and a narrative assessment of proposed building systems.

Design Development (100 Days) - is the continued development of the project design and detailing, refinement, and confirmation of program requirements and schematic design efforts, and the expansion of outline specifications that fully describe the nature and intent of the project.

Construction Documents (99 Days) - begin at the completion of Design Development documents and incorporate and illustrate all aspects of the project in sufficient detail for purposes of bidding/proposing by the construction community throughout the construction process. All construction documents include 100% complete drawings and specifications with the appropriate architect and engineer seals.

Has any 2007 Bond been transferred into the 2016 Bond? 

EPISD has transferred available 2007 Bond Funds for Andress High School ($10.2M) and Irvin High School ($25.6M) into Jacobs’ management scope of work in order to maximize the effectiveness of those dollars in a cohesive plan for each of those campuses.

When will construction begin for Bond 2016?

The earliest construction for Bond 2016 will begin in the Summer of 2018.  Construction start dates will be staggered, with the latest start date occurring in Summer of 2019.  The reason for staggering construction start dates is to ensure that prices aren't inflated due to the influx of construction projects taking place in El Paso

When will all construction be completed for Bond 2016?

All construction will be completed by January of 2022, to stay in line with the 5-year deadline for Bond 2016.

How was the final scope of work for each project decided?

The Board of Trustees and the Administration appointed 80 citizens to the EPISD Facilities Advisory Committee, that vetted and studied the District's needs for nearly five months.  Using data from in-house and independent facility reports, the FAC selected the projects that were presented to the Board of Trustees.  From there, Jacobs and EPISD Facilities & Construction staff, met with school principals to further narrow down the scope of work to fit the school’s needs and the given budget.

What happens if a project goes over budget?

Steps will be taken to ensure that projects stay within budget, including contingency fees and check estimates. Check estimates are done at different stages throughout the process to ensure projects are staying within the budget target.  If it is determined that the project will have to go over budget, money is drawn from the contingency pool.  At the beginning of the process, each project will have 5% taken for project contingency fees and another 5% taken for program contingency fees.

The project contingency demonstrates a best practice that is used to offset unforeseen costs that could disrupt the critical path of a project.  Contingencies are then held in the line items of the projects to protect the projects from overruns of the construction costs, additional design costs or consultant fees.  Monies have also been earmarked for furnishings, technology equipment, permits, and fees, hazardous materials abatement where applicable, as well as movers, to accommodate the phasing and move-in process.  It is the intent for these line item funds to remain assigned to the campus of origin.  Some projects are also carrying a contingency amount to offset the setup costs of portables or flex space if required.

Will all schools be under construction at once?

All schools will be under construction at once but in different phases of the construction process.  As mentioned previously, project start dates will be staggered to alleviate inflation from construction firms.

How were architecture/engineering firms chosen?  How and when will construction firms be chosen?

RFQ No. 17-042 soliciting proposals from interested architects/engineers was posted on January 30, 2017. A Pre-Proposal Conference was held on February 15, 2017, where 52 individuals from various firms received clarification on the RFQ process and were able to ask questions of EPISD and Jacobs.  The Proposals were evaluated by assigned members of the Architect Evaluation Committee according to the specific criteria as set forth in the RFQ instructions received by all proposers.  The Evaluation Committee diligently reviewed each proposal and then convened to total their scores. After final deliberation, the pool of 28 proposals was narrowed to the 10 determined to be most qualified to deliver the Bond 2016 projects.  The construction firms will be chosen through the same process.

How long is the Design Phase?

The design phase takes approximately eight to twelve months from when the project is assigned to an architecture firm.

What will happen to schools that are closing?  Will the land be sold? Will the community get a say in what happens to unused land?  What happens to any money made off of land by EPISD?

Schools that close due to consolidations will be designated as surplus EPISD property.  If the Board deems that the property will not be of future use by EPISD, the land will be put for sale through a Sealed Bid Process and sold by a real estate broker. According to the compact with the voters, the Board has agreed to at least one meeting prior to the disposition of the land and further, that no property will be sold to a charter school unless required to do so under state law.  Profits from the sold property can only be used for other EPISD construction projects, see Land Sales Policy Link for more information. http://pol.tasb.org/Policy/Code/437?filter=CDB

What about operational savings from consolidations?

The consolidations will save the District $1 million per year per campus in operational funds.  These savings are what could be used to invest in salaries for teachers and staff.

When will consolidations take place, and students move to their new locations?

All consolidations are set to take place in the Summer of 2020 or 2021, to ensure there is no disruption to student's learning.

Will new lines be drawn for schools that are consolidating?

Some lines may be redrawn for consolidations, depending on the capacity of the consolidated school and high school within the feeder pattern.

How does a PreK-8 work?

PreK-8 schools combine students and administration into one school while keeping classrooms and drop-offs separate.  There will be some shared facilities between elementary and middle school students, including the cafeteria, library, and administration.  Most teachers will follow students to the new campus, administrators and support staff will be reassigned, relocated or absorbed through attrition.

What will happen to school names after the consolidation?

EPISD has a process for naming new schools, we will look at starting that process in 2018 once the designs for each school are in the design development phase.  Principals at consolidating schools will create a Naming Committee, that will gather community suggestions, and listen to presentations from community members.  Once suggestions are gathered, the committee will choose their top three and take those to the Board, with one of the names being their top choice.  The Board will then approve the new name.

How are you going to ensure my child is safe during construction?

In every project the safety of students, staff, workmen, and the general public is paramount.  Safety plans and logistical plans will be reviewed by District, design and construction personnel.  The jurisdictions having authority as well as municipal offices will have the opportunity to review safety aspects of the project.  Meetings will be held continuously through the project to  monitor and adjust as needed any safety aspect of the project.  Care will be taken to maintain a safety barrier between the work and the students and staff.  The construction personnel will be identified through a badging system, common dress and background checks.  Further, holidays and afterhours opportunities will be utilized to conduct work that might create risk.  Safety is something we take very seriously and will be at the forefront of all our processes.

What will happen to buses that are retired from EPISD?

EPISD has made a conscious decision to replace retiring buses with similar, but updated buses.  This allows the District to use older buses for spare parts when newer buses are in need of repairs.  Buses that are determined to be no longer viable for use or for parts, may be surplused by the District and sold along with other items deemed no longer needed by EPISD.  Proceeds from surplus sales are deposited back into the District's budget. 

Will there be a way to monitor my child’s laptop?

The District-issued laptops have the same protection and safety measures that all other EPISD computers have.  The District does its best to block access to improper websites and programs.  However, technology is fluid and parents should check their children's online activity. As an added layer of protection, the District has embarked on a widespread prevention program aimed at teaching students proper digital citizenship.  This program teaches students proper internet behavior. 

What are the athletic improvements?

Athletic improvements will include turf replacements, new lighting for softball, baseball, and football fields, and tennis court resurfacing for all high schools.  To see what each high school will receive, please look at our Athletic Improvements Schedule.

How did you arrive at the Construction Budget?

The Construction Budget is a probable cost estimate provided by the project architects and Jacobs, based on previous experience, market conditions, and local resources available.  The difference between the Project Budget and Construction Budget is soft costs including design fees, contingencies, technology, FF&E, mover’s fees, permits, abatement and portable costs.

What is CMAR and why do some projects use it?

A Construction Manager at Risk or CMAR is a method of purchasing work where the contractor manages the work for a set fee and receives pricing from subcontractors to perform the construction.  The District has identified several projects to utilize this procurement method due to the fact that this method allows the construction manager to be brought in early to work with phasing and other logistic items necessary to perform the work.  This is critical in projects that are multi-phase and have a higher degree of risk.

The bulk of the projects for the EPISD campaign will utilize Competitive Sealed Proposals (CSP) to buy the work.  This method is the most familiar and lends itself to the majority of the projects being conducted for the District.  Regardless of the delivery methods the goal is to provide a good product for a good value to the District.