Capital Improvement Program
Recent news regarding the Capital Improvement Program (CIP):
Town Hall Updates Community on CIP Program:
Building the Vision
The Fort Worth Independent School District conducted a Town Hall meeting to update the community on “Building the Vision,” the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) currently underway in the District. The meeting took place at Paschal High School on Tuesday, February 19, 2008.
The Town Hall meeting featured FWISD Board of Education District 8 Representative Juan Rangel and Superintendent Melody Johnson.
Other leaders attended, including former City Council representative Wendy Davis.
Parents and community members asked questions about the $593.6 million bond issue approved by District voters in the fall of 2007. Work on the CIP began immediately after the proposal was passed. The Town Hall meeting provided citizens the opportunity to learn what work has already been accomplished and how the work will progress.
Board of Education Approved Bond Sale
The Board of Education of the Fort Worth Independent School District has approved the sale of $224.5 million in capital improvement bonds. The sale is just under half the amount approved by voters in November, 2007.
Proceeds from the bond sale will be used to fund Phase 1 of the Capital Improvement Project (CIP). The CIP, dubbed, Building the Vision, is designed to improve existing school facilities, build new facilities and equip all classrooms with modern teaching tools.
Both Moody’s Investor Service and the Standard and Poor’s Rating Service have issued the Fort Worth ISD their second highest bond rating for school districts. The ratings reflect the District’s sizeable and growing tax base and solid financial management practices.
“We are extremely pleased to see the rating from Moody’s and Standard and Poor’s,” said Ronald Wilson, Chief Financial Officer for FWISD. “Good ratings are good news for both the taxpayers and the investors who buy these securities.”
Additional bond sales are planned in 2009, 2010 and 2011. Building the Vision is a six year project resulting from an exhaustive 2007 facilities study that addresses district-wide capacity, maintenance and technology issues.
District Kicks Off Its HUB Program
Fort Worth ISD will launch its new HUB (Historically Underutilized Businesses) Program with an event designed for networking and learning how to do business with the District. The kick-off will be held Wednesday, January 30, 2008, at 4:30 p.m., at the Fort Worth ISD Board Room, at 2903 Shotts St.
Minority and women business owners will have the opportunity to meet key Fort Worth ISD personnel, including Jollyn Mwisongo, who was recently named the District’s Business Coordinator – HUB Program.
“The main objective of this event is to get the word out to business owners who may not realize the many available opportunities, from supplying sports uniforms to maintaining the District’s vehicles,” Ms. Mwisongo said.
Jonathan Bey, the District’s Director of Purchasing, will talk about both current and upcoming business opportunities, including work related to the $593.6 million Capital Improvement Program. He will offer “how to” tips for becoming a Fort Worth ISD vendor.
Officials from the North Central Texas Regional Certification Agency also plan to be on hand to answer HUB owners’ questions about getting certified.
A HUB is defined as a business in which at least fifty-one percent of the business is owned, operated and controlled by a minority individual or group or by a woman or group of women.
Board of Education Chooses CIP Oversight Committee
The Fort Worth Independent School District Board of Education has approved the members of the Citizens’ Oversight Committee (COC). The thirteen member panel will oversee the District’s Capital Improvement Program
The COC is selected by the superintendent and approved by the Board of Education. Originally the COC was proposed as an eleven member committee. But in order to ensure a broader diversity of expertise the group has been expanded to thirteen members.
Members of the COC are volunteers who are appointed for staggered two or three year terms. The chairperson will be elected by COC members. The committee may not include any current District employee or any current vendor, contractor or consultant of the District. Members are not compensated for their participation.
“This group of individuals is essential because they will help guarantee that the Capital Improvement Project is doing what it is designed to do and that all the work and records are transparent,” said Superintendent Melody Johnson. “We are very grateful to these citizens for volunteering their time and effort as we work for the future of the District.”
The COC will report at least quarterly to the Superintendent and the Board of Education on CIP topics that may include, but are not limited to:
- Overall finance, schedule and budget status
- Program management and construction issues
- Environmental stewardship
- Historically underutilized businesses status
- Compliance with District polices
The Citizens’ Oversight Committee members are:
Construction Experts -
- James (Jim) DeMoss, The DeMoss Company
- Harold Hebson, Senior VP, Linbeck
Engineers –
- Victor M. Garcia, Fort Worth Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
- Willett R. Stallworth, Director of Physical Plant, TCU
Labor & Construction Law –
- Maryellen Whitlock Hicks, Visiting Judge, State of Texas
- Jack E. Larson, Mellina & Larson, P.C.
Financial Management –
- Daniel C. Villegas, Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.
Public Agency Coordination –
- Dionne Bagsby, retired Tarrant County Commissioner
Land Development -
- Isaac H. Manning, Trinity Works
City Leader –
- Dr. Dan Short, Dean, Neeley School of Business, TCU
Parent Leaders –
- Paula Batts, FWISD Council of PTAs
- Lisa Savage, FWISD Council of PTAs
Employee Representative –
- Larry Shaw, United Educators Association
View the proposed school by school improvements listed by Board of Education represented district.
View a more detailed school by school report in the Facilities Condition Assessment.
Download a copy of the Landowner's Bill of Rights.
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