District considers safety, HVAC upgrades at campuses
Pleasant Grove Independent School District’s Facilities Committee met Thursday to learn more about the state of the district’s buildings and what improvements are required.
Architect Ross Davis of Longview-based Thacker Davis Architects showed slides of the district’s buildings and pointed out what needed to be repaired or replaced.
He recommended upgrades on all heating and air conditioning units, some of which are 20 years old. Other recommendations include roofing at the elementary, middle and high schools, new flooring in all facilities and sealing masonry joints at all the schools. Davis said the middle school stadium needs upgrades such as new weight rooms and dressing rooms, a new press box and concession stands and new lighting and seating.
Safety and security also need updating on all the campuses, he said.
“Everything about facility improvement within this district is about education,” Davis said. “The bottom line is improvement of education, improving the students’ future. That’s something I know is true.”
Overall, the facilities are in good shape because of maintenance and upgrades done over the years.
“You’ve done a really good job and taken a lot of pride in what you accomplished not just in maintenance, but provisions to students over the years through bonds and construction,” he said. “So from that point of view, we’re doing well.”
The committee also heard a presentation from Adam Quinn of lighting company E3, which works through the Texas Association of School Boards to help districts install energy-LED lighting.
“We believe every dollar wasted on utilities is a dollar that could be spent on something more important,” he said. “We do everything in our power to consume less energy.”
He said the LED lighting would last 50,000 hours, have a 10-year warranty and save the district up to $89,074 per year.
The 26-member Facilities Committee is appointed by the district’s Board of Trustees. The committee’s next meeting is scheduled for Nov. 16.