001Good evening everyone. I now call this special meeting in of the Rio Grande City Grulla ISD school board to order. The time is 5:35 p.m. This meeting was properly posted April 15th, 2026 at 3:45 and we will begin with roll call. Mr. Rene Pena Present. Mr. Eduardo Ramirez Absent. Mr. Noe Castillo Absent. Miss Patty Garza Present. Mr. Jessie Solis Present. Mr. Basilio Tijerina Jr. Present. And Miss Guadalupe Garza Present. Thank you. And let's do the invocation led by Mr. Pena. Let us go to break. Heavenly Father, Lord, we thank you for having us here this evening, Father. We ask you that you guide us, that you direct us, Father, throughout this meeting. That all we do, Father, we do it to move this district forward and keep our children and our employees in the forefront.
002All this we ask in your name. Amen. Mr. Jessie, can you lead us with the Pledge of Allegiance? I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. Public comments, do we have anybody signed up? Thank you. And we continue to section section six, business office action 6A, consider and take possible action on approval of the sound system installation proposal for Joe R. Sanchez Stadium. Okay. Madam [clears throat] President, members of the board, Miss Garza, Superintendent Schools, I'll take you back some months when we had when we had an event there at the at the stadium involving our fine arts program. I know most most of us were there. We got to
003see again our band, both bands perform. We had to see our mariachi perform. We had to see we got to see some of the elementaries perform. Again our sound system, it's pretty outdated. So we met with Miss Garza after after that event and we started looking valley-wide which district had the best best sound system. So the information that we got in return was there was a lot out there, but the one that had the best sound system was San Benito. So we made a trip over there. We we got to meet there their director. We got to meet his supervisor, their technology director and they basically showed us everything that they have in terms of their sound at the stadium. It blew us away in terms of what they what they you know what they
004had at their stadium. So we were thinking, okay, this is going to be pretty expensive. So what what where we got very lucky in terms of what San Benito did is they cut the middleman. They didn't have a a middleman. They went as a district and they went directly and bought the parts themselves. Their maintenance played a big role. Their welding department, their technology department played a big role also in terms of running the wire. So basically if if they were to do where they would just do a turnkey job and hire somebody, it would be more than double of what they ended up paying. So again, we are not reinventing the wheel. So what we're looking to do is basically exactly what San Benito did and that's where we started getting the quotes and
005looking to do exactly what they did. Can I ask some questions? Sure. Yeah, let me ask a couple of questions. I think putting a sound system in stadium is a great thing. But let me ask the problem so you're what I'm asking is how come we have we put it out to bid to find out if anybody could do a turnkey? And the reason I say that is because if somebody does a wiring and somebody does the equipment and let's say in the future we have problems, you go to the guy from the equipment, he's going to say it's not us, it's the wiring. [clears throat] You go to the guy from the wiring, you say no, it's the equipment. And when you have one person doing everything, you just go and fix it. So
006have we really I know you say it's double, but until we put it out to RFQs or or proposals, we really wouldn't know, but I have a problem. We've had that in the past where everybody's tried to put the fault on somebody else when they have problems. So if you have two two individuals or two individual companies doing the the same I mean different parts of the project and we have problems it's going to get difficult. Yeah, basically what he would do is oversee. The one that will be doing the the work will be the district. It will it will be our welding department. It will be our technology department and our maintenance department. >> our technology department will be throwing the wiring Our our technology department would be throwing the the wiring and that's
007where the savings come in. So basically the key here is getting getting those parts and and everything that we need. Uh what are we shooting for? We're shooting to have everything ready by graduation. Is is that a guarantee? Again, a lot of it is going to depend on the parts. If there's delays you know, then that's out of our control. But in the big scheme of things, we're looking at football games for Rio, football games for Grulla, our fine arts every community event that borrows the stadium, our track for our elementary kids. So this long-term again, we we the use is going to be endless. But what are we shooting for? We're shooting for to try and have it done before our graduation. There's no doubt that we need a new sound system, but if
008you look at the way the item is put, consider and take possible action on approval of sound system installation. It doesn't say equipment, it says installation. Are we approving the equipment here tonight too? >> It's the equipment and it's the company that will be overseeing the installation. Okay. I have a question. You know, there's always going to be some unforeseen events and we have some upcoming unforeseen events I'm saying with the equipment and XYZ, right? We have some upcoming events obviously the big several that that are important for all of our students including graduation. Do we have like a plan in place? Do we have a contingency? If in case one of these items you know what doesn't fit, we need to send it back, get credit, get another one. Stuff happens, right? But is
009there something that is there assurances there that maybe we can continue with the business whatever upcoming events there will be? Yeah. Without affecting you know some of our students and activities. Yeah, and great question. Actually that that's a question that we had ourselves when we made the visit to San Benito. So our existing what we have right now existing will not be touched. We're not going to take what we have right now away to install this. So they will be able to coexist together. So San Benito has the exact same setup. What they have their sound system that they had before was through their scoreboard. That's how we have our setup also. So they didn't undo that. They didn't turn that off. They didn't eliminate that. It was just what they did new was in
010addition to what they already have. So again worst case scenario again, board approving this item. If there's delays and we don't get to finish it here before graduation, graduation will continue as we've done every year using the current system that we have right now. So we're approving the equipment here with this item here. If if board approves, it's for the equipment and it's for the services. So it's estimated estimated equipment cost. Correct. I think we can modify the equipment and installation. >> Yes, you can make a motion to approve that. Yeah. Okay. All right, any other questions? All right. So can I have a motion to approve item 6A consider and take possible action on approval of the sound system and equipment proposal for Joe R. Sanchez Stadium. I so move. And a second? Second.
011All those in favor raise your right hand. And motion passes. Thank you. Now item 6B consider and take possible action on agreement for engineering services for the Fort Ringgold Auditorium. Okay. Want to tell us a little bit about that? Okay. Again, this this goes back I mean I basically what what I talked about the stadium, it's the same thing. I know we made an attempt as a district to try and upgrade into a performing arts center. So this is basically what what we're trying to do in the auditorium is basically give it a facelift. We need to upgrade basically everything in there. Our restrooms, our seating area, our stage area, our sound system, our lighting. So basically we we need to give it a facelift. So that's uh what we're looking to do here with
012this item. And with these engineering services, that's what they're going to be doing. They're going to be giving us an like an estimate of of how much it would take to do that. >> Yeah. So So what what the engineering does is they basically whatever it is the amount that we have to work with is that what's that's what we tell him that he has to work with in terms to stay under what whatever the budget is going to be for for the auditorium. >> And then they're costing us 10% of that. Yes. That's the That's the general rule? Yes, whatever their service is. Usually when you have engineers they usually, and I learned this when we were going through through the bond and and doing some other projects, when you have an engineer and
013and an architect when it's a new that they're building something new their their rate is a little cheaper. When they go into something like this that is an existing building and we're looking to upgrade it, usually they go up a percentage point or two. Can I ask you a couple of questions? Yeah. Real quickly. I know that that architects usually charge around 6% normally. Is 10% the norm? Have we checked? It seems a little high to me. I mean, but 10% I know that architects are at 6%. You say one or two percentage points, that would put it at eight, but 10%? And And the next question I have, who would do who who are we recommending to do this work? Cloral Romero. And he's not an architect, he's an engineer. So again, I know
014when talking to our former architect and talking to engineers throughout the years, again, their rate is a little more expensive because they're going into an existing facility. Well, there's no doubt about it. We need to upgrade that auditorium. There's no doubt about it. I think Cloral Romero does a great job. The one last question I have, I know that we repurposed around $15 million. Is there any of that money that we could use so we don't or maybe ask, is there any of that money from the $15 million or maybe I could ask someone to pay be able to use in these next two projects? Uh these next two projects, Madam President, members of the board, Mr. Superintendent, these two projects are will be funded with the maintenance tax notes. That So there is at
015the last And the reason I know that there is money with the repurposed funds because the superintendent every cabinet meeting that's one of the first things we look at. And I believe there was like, you know, 3.5, 3.8 million dollars still left in that repurposed funds. But these two projects are completely independent of those funds and will be used with the maintenance tax notes. And there's no way we could use some of that money so we wouldn't go into that much debt. Maybe a better way. I know we that's one of the things that she we we discussed in cabinet, sir. The the thing is the $8 million over 15 years uh the increase was 150,000, 100, 200,000 from what we're currently paying on the maintenance tax notes. So, you know, we we said we
016can cover that through either saving a couple of FTE positions or through the general fund because of the the amount going up per year was very minimal and within three, four years you're paying really much the same you're paying right now. So that's why we went that route. That was our recommendation. So what are the $15 million repurposed? We have about $3 million. I believe I know Miss Robles presented at cabinet, sir, and then I should we covered every every Monday. That's what I remember seeing on the notes. I I don't want to quote her either that more or less. But I have to agree that that auditorium does need an upgrade. I know that our our restrooms are not even handicap accessible and they've been like that for years. I mean, they're very uncomfortable
017as well. So I think that that's something that needs to be invested and it's not invested for for the adults, invested for the community and our children. You know, that's that's where they perform where they perform at. And one thing that I see and I kept saying was seeing our our our one-act play everybody having to go to Roma. I think that's costly also with fuel and all that. So having that auditorium, you know, giving it a a nice uh um facelift and a and and remodeling, I think that that would put it in a at a different level where our kids don't have to travel out anymore. And great point, Mr. Peña. Exactly what we just talked about the stadium in terms of our elementary graduations are there, our elementary their events that they
018have in Christmas and end of year, our community. So basically the same use that we're talking about the stadium is what exactly what we have for the auditorium. And And that should be our goal. Our investment should be in our children and in our staff. You know, that's that's And And I always said as long as the money follows the kids and the staff, nobody should be questioning what we do. Mr. Garza, one last question. I know that Paco Zarate Performing Arts Center, that was designed for one-act plays. I know it's in pretty bad shape. Any ideas of ever upgrading that one because it is That one's really designed for one-act plays. I know we're beginning right now with, you know, I want to call what is it phase level phase one, right? Definitely is
019in our plans to hopefully, you know, restore that that as well within the years to come as well, Mr. Peña. And that's something that we should have considered also, you know, when we went through the bond election. Maybe we could have used some of that money to to to to to do for that purpose, you know, but I don't think anybody thought about that at the time. And I think that right now, I think they're the the more convenient way to go is to go about with the auditorium. I think it has more space and it's I think it's in a better shape than than Paco Zarate. At least from what I saw last night. And And And it has never been It has never been touched before. I mean, nunca le han puesto mano.
020And And we trust us, we in cabinet, we talk about everything, every facility. Do we wish we could go and fix every single building? Yes, we do. The priority in terms of this is the auditorium, but the Paco Zarate is is on our mind. We we do bring up Paco Zarate, but we we need to focus first on the auditorium. It's just more more of the campus. It's a community, you know, it's more of a centralized place that everybody uses. But again, we we are thinking of Paco Zarate and and that is in our future plans. There's no doubt about it. We do need a an upgrade to that auditorium. It's quite old. The last thing I would say, just be careful. Maybe tell the engineer, I don't I know a couple of years a
021piece of concrete fell down and it's it's uh You better check it well. And And again, uh when we had that issue, Cloral was the one that came to assist us with that. So he is well aware of that. >> Cloral does a good job. I do have a question though before we move on for legal. Do you know if legal has already reviewed this? This is an item that Mr. Ramirez was reviewing and he did inform me that he was recommending approval. He was recommending approval. Okay, thank you. All right. What was it? Okay. And we did retouch it. >> We we have plans to not not touch the mural. That will stay in existence. More than likely from what we're seeing, it will stay indoors from the remodeling that we're looking at. So
022yes, that will continue. That was done by Mr. Barrera one of our own. Really? Yes, that that will continue. All right. Can I have a motion? I'll move. And a second. >> [snorts] >> I'll second. All right. All those in favor, raise right hand. And motion passes. Item 60. Consider and take possible action on agreement for engineering services for Ramiro Viegas gym wrestling center. And And again, this goes also hand in hand with the auditorium. This is something that I'll take you years back with the bond that we were looking at a wrestling center for Grulla High School. We were looking for a wrestling center at Rio High School. It did not work out. Uh so we are looking at Ramiro Viegas gym. Again, to fix the HVAC, uh give a facelift to the locker
023rooms, to the restrooms, the showers on both the boys and the girls. Of course, by fixing the HVAC, we need to fix the windows. So again, we're looking at an upgrade similar to what we're planning for the auditorium. Just one question. I know that there was an architect, I forgot his name, had a weird name, that had done a plan for a wrestling center. The the the specs, was it for a different location? Yes, it was for a different location. When we first uh when we first start started with the Gignac, we started in a location at each high school and then we moved to a location at the fort at the Little Lions. Um and right now we're looking at uh Ramiro Viegas. Okay. So the Little Lions wouldn't be more cost effective than
024than the since you already have the plans. No. Right now, the cost effective wise would be Ramiro Viegas. And with Little Lions, we do use it for other things because the AC works, the gym floor for basketball. We also have events for the community. When we have the convocation, it worked out very well having it right there next door. So we still use the Little Lions gym for for other events. >> And I And I think I mean, in in all due respect to Coach Viegas, Coach Viegas was a coach here for many years. He was a coach during our my high school years. And I think that out of respect for the family as well, I mean, I think that that gymnasium should not be just let to go to waste, you know, and
025and and put it to good use. You know, so using it as a wrestling as a wrestling center for them would be great. I mean, I know that it's not the appropriate sport because he coached basketball and football, but I think that just the fact that we're using it for sport would honor bring honor to his name, you know, being coached here for so many years. And I know we And again, pending board approval, of course, but we did meet with our wrestling coach and he was very very excited if if the board approves Ramiro Villegas, he would love having that facility. This is long overdue. I think that our wrestling team has been doing awesome amazing uh throughout the years and it's sad that we are just now, you know, going to be able
026to do this for them. All right, can I have a motion? So moved. Uh second. Second. And all those in favor raise your right hand. And motion passes. Item 6D Consider and take possible action on agreement for engineering services for the digital billboard. Okay, on this we had gone out to bid on the billboard and uh we had looked at different locations inside the fort. So what happened is we, you know, we kind of jumped the gun in terms of got going with the bid before we settled on what where the location was going to be. Once we got that we settled on the location, we found out that we needed a uh electrical engineer. So again, since we've been working with Clodo, uh you know, so we went with Clodo and we're looking to
027uh add Clodo to be able to help us and guide us on the electricity that we will need to run the digital billboard. Let's see if he is charging the uniform. 29,500. Which is kind of high, but I don't know if that's normal. And how much is the billboard? The billboard is out to bid right now. Oh, it's out to bid. Do we have a location for it already? What we're looking to do is where we have the current one right now as you exit the exit the stadium. That it it's the same place. Seems to be our most popular area. Uh Maybe maybe you could talk to Clodo because 29,500 does seem a little high to be honest with you. I and I know when I talked to Clodo is that what he told
028us from where the billboard is going to be to where they're going to run the electricity was a pretty long uh way. So I I will talk to him about that. The electrical engineer is 15,000, telecommunications 4,500, lightning protection 5,500, site plan 4,500. >> But he's not going to do the the work. He he's just supervising, correct? He had Yeah, he has an electrical engineer on his staff. Yeah, but the the price he's giving us is not to run the electricity or is that included? Yes. No, it's that's his that's what he's >> going to run all the wiring He's going to help us through his through his office. So this this price includes the wiring and everything to the to the digital Yes. Yeah, that's it. It's not it's not only labor, basically. It's
029parts and labor. It's he's going to take care of that of that part for us. Can we put that also, parts and labor? It it says here uh engineering services. You you can make the motion like I'm sorry. Uh it's no parts. It's just No, no parts. Um Mr. Robles is advising me. So it's just it's basically a consultancy, right? >> Yes. The what what the engineer charges for the plans and to oversee it. Yeah, to oversee it. Well, maybe talk to him and see if he could give us a better price because 29's it it does sound high. I'm just saying. If we approve it, it could be subject to legal and legal can can they do like a negotiation or not? Why don't we give it to the the thing to Miss Garza
030to go negotiate the price? Okay. Okay, we'll do. All right, can I have a So then it's going to be item 6D taking possible action on agreement uh for engineering services for the digital billboard. I I I uh I amend that to give Miss Garza the power to negotiate that the correct price. All right, can I have a second? Second. And all those in favor raise your right hand. And motion passes. We move on to section seven, public comments on non-agenda items. None. All right. Any announcements? No, ma'am. We're good. Thank you. All right. Being that there are no further items left on the agenda, I now declare the meeting adjourned. It is 5:59 p.m. Thank you and have a great evening. Rio Grande plays Roma tonight, too. Go see them. And baseball you.