Jennifer Perry Middleton/Jefferson Jimplecute
Jefferson Independent School District is now one step closer to renovations to the high school’s football stadium. On Tuesday, JISD Trustees approved the drawings completed by Trull & Hollensworth Architects for the proposed project. This allows the board to move forward and accept contractor bids.
Architect Jerry Hollensworth presented the drawings to the board, and said that they had done a pre-bid walk through with two contractors earlier in the day, and that the contractors can now put bid packages together to be opened just before next month’s board meeting.
Superintendent Rob Barnwell said they are hoping to get started on the project as soon as possible, and for it to be completed in time for football season in the fall of 2022.
Hollensworth said that the chosen contractor will have 195 days to complete the work. The Magnolia, Ark., firm has experience with football stadiums, and has drawn plans to improve drainage, improve the field, replace fencing, update the press box and ticket booth, and add some additional parking and driving surfaces around the stadium.
During the November board meeting, Barnwell said that the project needs to have a price of $3 million or lower and that it will be paid for through the district’s fund balance instead of asking the taxpayers to approve a bond issue and increase taxes. He added that if the project comes in low enough, they can look at replacing the field’s turf.
In other business, Patti Wallace with the Marion County Tax Office told the board that they sold 36 properties at the December 7 tax sale, and made a total of $313,000, the largest sale in the county’s history.
An 80-acre tract was sold for $105,000, and a 30-acre tract sold for $55,000.
“It was a win-win for everyone included that day,” Wallace told the board. Six-two people signed up to bid on the properties, with 42 showing up to bid. She also said that there were about 70 people at the sale, and one woman called in from Alaska to bid on a property.
“It was a good day,” she said. “We are moving some properties into the name of people who will pay the taxes.”
Wallace also told the board that the December sales seem to be the most popular, and that last year’s December sale brought in $172,000. The next sale will be in March.
The board also approved members for the Marion Central Appraisal District’s Board of Directors. They voted for Jason Bonner, Kevin Godfrey and Bob Sanders to continue serving in their seats on the board.
A public hearing was also held on the district’s 2020-21 School First Rating by the Texas Education Agency. This analyzes the district’s financial efficiency and effectiveness. JISD once again received a Superior Rating and a score of 100. Barnwell thanked Mike Wood, the district’s business manager for his exceptional work to achieve the state’s top school financial rating.