When voters in Tomball ISD approved the school district’s $198 million bond proposal in 2007, they did so during a precarious time in the construction market.

After Hurricane Rita devastated the Gulf Coast in 2005, construction equipment, including the price of steel, sharply increased, driving up project costs.

Tomball ISD was not immune to a fluctuating market when they kicked off their construction projects two years ago.

The crown jewel of the Bond 2007 project is the district’s second high school, Tomball Memorial. Tomball ISD allocated $62 million for the construction of the second high school and scheduled the opening for August 2011.

But after working with the contractor, Gilbane Builders, the district was able to cut the price tag down more than $2 million, and move the construction timeline up two months.

At the March 10 Board of Trustees meeting, the school board approved the Guaranteed Maximum Bid for Tomball Memorial High School at $59.2 million. Project coordinator Gary Hutton also announced the school should be completed by May 2011.

“This (the price) includes everything,” Hutton said. “We bid this at a very good time. We’ll absolutely get the best school for our money.”

Assistant Superintendent For Administrative Services David Schuelke assured the board that despite the lower price tag, the district was not forced to settle with a contractor or subcontractors they wouldn’t normally work with.

“We got the contractor and the subcontractors we want,” he said. “We’re under budget and at a level this district can be proud of.”

According to district spokesperson Staci Stanfield, the next step is to name the mascot and the colors of the new high school. Those will be announced at the May board meetings, currently scheduled for May 11 and 12.

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