Ysleta ISD: Board hires VLK Architects as bond project manager before bond is passed

The Ysleta Independent School District is one step closer to a multi-million-dollar makeover. The board voted in favor of hiring a bond project manager Wednesday, which will get started on preliminary plans.

Superintendent Xavier De La Torre said although taxpayers haven’t voted in favor of passing the $451.5 million bond just yet, the district will be ready to start the five-year plan if they do May 9.

“We really needed professionals on this job,” De La Torre said, referring to the $451.5 million worth of renovations and upgrades to crumbling, old school buildings. He said the project has to be completed in five years, something that wouldn’t happen if the district managed the project internally.

“This is a multi-phase facility master plan,” De La Torre said. “If we don’t do exactly what we told the public we’re going to do in phase one, there’s no way we can go out to them for phase two. So it has to be about as close to perfect as possible.”

The board voted 5-to-1 in favor of hiring VLK Architects, with offices based in Houston and Fort Worth. VLK was chosen by a district committee, including UTEP’s School of Engineering dean and El Paso ISD’s chief facilities officer. Out of four firms considered, VLK made the final cut.

Regardless of whether the bond passes or fails VLK will be paid $60,000 out of the general fund to start managing the project. If the bond passes, VLK will enter into a five-year contract with the district, being paid the average rate of 2.5 percent per project, which equates to just over $10 million. De La Torre said he negotiated leaving out contingency funds meant for going over budget or inflation, which means VLK is being paid 2.5 percent on $405 million, not the full $451.5 million. The district has a 30-day out.

“It assumes that every project that they manage comes in on time, under budget with the quality they expect,” De La Torre said.

The next step now is to organize focus groups, made up of faculty and staff VLK will survey, looking to create a district-wide standards, much like a template that ensures equity. De La Torre is looking to avoid one project appearing less than another.

“I felt that they investment, although it seems significant, $10 million is significant,” De La Torre admitted. “There can’t be any mistakes.”

The district will begin talking about forming the focus groups next week, while VLK starts to fly into town later this month.