Board selects architect for bond

The school board chose NR2 Architects to draw out the projects for the bond issue; if bond fails no money owed

By Kim Cox
kcox@campcountynow.com

After approving the resignation of Coach Debra Manley, the school board interviewed three possible architects for the $10 million school bond projects on March 19.
Charlie Price, the head of Compass Builders – a project manager for the past several district construction projects, was quick to tell the board that if the bond issue did not pass in May, the district would not be billed for services rendered, but by choosing an architect early, if the bond passes, it gives the district more time to build in the summer months.
“That way, we are that much more ahead,” Mr. Price said. “Whoever you choose, you don’t owe them anything [until the bond passes].
He said it was really good to have a separate relationship with the architect.
“They look over our shoulders, and we look over theirs,” he said. “It’s better for the school district.”
The district interviewed three different firms: BWA out of Dallas, W. C. Ferrell out of Commerce, and NR2 Architects from Dallas.
At the next board meeting on March 25, the board voted to hire NR2 architects.
The first firm’s presentation was made by Jeff Ball, Steve Johnson and Anna Sullivan. BWA Architects, a firm with three offices in Norman and Tulas, Okla.,  and Dallas focuses on K-12 projects, Mr. Ball said.
“We’re more of a nuts and bolts type of architecture firm,” he said.
The firm pitched their ideas about each of the individual projects, including taking out the dishwasher area from the cafeteria on Fulton Street and placing the new serving line there. The group also suggested turning the 400 building back into an ag building.  
Dan Kincaid, a board member, asked why, since they were redoing the glass wall facing Fulton Street, couldn’t they expand the cafeteria that way.
Mr. Johnson said that was an idea that will be considered.
“We want what you want,” he said. “The more we know the better.”
Mrs. Pollan asked them point blank if they had ever been sued, to which Mr. Bell said no.
After the group left the meeting, Mrs. Pollan asked Mr. Price what he thought of the firm.
“They have a tendency to bill for reimbursements,” he said, for every little thing. “Their strongest point is they are a big firm, and they can crank it out.”
Joe Marsh, the district’s director of maintenance and transportation, said he wasn’t too sure about working with this firm.
“They seemed like they were a little pushy on some issues,” he said.
The district then interviewed W. C. Ferrell, a one-man operation out of Commerce. Mr. Ferrell designed the last five projects in the district, including expanding the high school cafeteria and building the new gym at the junior high.
Mr. Ferrell went over his latest projects. He told the board he usually kept one project on the drawing board and one project at the construction site. Right now, he said he had nothing on the drawing board and was finishing up construction on a project at Muenster ISD, a project similar to Pittsburg’s bond issue.
“Our projects we’ve done with you have turned out very well,” Mrs. Pollan said, noting that she has received several compliments on the new gym.
Mr. Ferrell said he prefers to work in Northeast Texas, and loved working with PISD.
“Mr. Marsh and Mrs. Pollan, you are wonderful to work with. You can’t say that about every school district,” he said.
After Mr. Ferrell left, the board asked for Mr. Marsh’s input.
“He doesn’t have any ego, and he’s easy to work with,” he said.
The final firm interviewed was NR2, with Michael Nelson and Robb McClain making the presentation.
The pair said they were working on a few different projects at San Saba Elementary School, writing a presentation for Dallas ISD, a field house and ag facility at Clyde ISD and a possible project at Colorado City ISD.
“I don’t know if that bond is going to pass or not,” Mr. Nelson said.
NR2 Architects designed the field house in 2007, and did a lot of design work for a multipurpose facility discussed at the time.
“I was sorry it didn’t happen,” Mr. Nelson said.
He repeated that if the bond election didn’t pass, they wouldn’t charge.
“That means you didn’t make the money to pay us, so we’ll shake hands and say ‘remember us next time,’” Mr. Nelson said.
After the architects left, the board members discussed the merits of each firm.
Mr. Price said that while Mr. Ferrell does good work, as a one-man operation, he has gotten bogged down in the current project he has for Muenster ISD.
“It’s we’re struggling to pull things out of him right now,” Mr. Price said.
Mr. Price said he’s worked with NR2 firm since 1990, and what he said was true about just pulling out a check if something was wrong. The wrong A/C unit was installed in a school district, and Mr. Ellison didn’t argue, Mr. Price said, he just pulled out his checkbook.
“It wasn’t his fault, it was the mechanical engineer’s fault,” he said. “Mike just wrote him a check. I’ve never seen that.”