The TCC board of trustees approved multiple contracts to renovate 68 classrooms for more than $12 million to ensure they comply with safety regulations and instructional standards.
The board authorized two major contracts. Package A is a $3.5 million agreement with Pecos Construction LLC to renovate 20 classrooms as part of the district’s Classroom Renovation initiative.
Package B is an amendment with CMC Development & Construction Corp. for up to $8.7 million to renovate 48 classrooms. The project continues renovations that began in 2023, which have cost the district about $1.17 million to date.
The 68 classrooms will be divided through the district as such:
NE Campus: 28
South Campus: 21
TR Campus: 9
SE Campus: 6
TR East Campus: 3
Alliance Center: one classroom turned into two.
Chief Financial Officer Pamela Anglin said Package B is separated into three levels of upgrades: the basic classroom renovation, basic classroom plus and student instructional learning classrooms.
At an April 10 work session, Anglin noted that tariffs recently enacted by President Donald Trump could affect Package A’s cost and delivery. Trustee Jeannie Deakyne asked whether the bids were time-limited to avoid potential increases. Executive Director of Procurement Mike Herndon said the college is working to expedite the process.
“We’re going to move quicker than normal if we’re able to get this approved to get contracts in place so they can quickly place their orders in hopes that we avoid some tariffs,” Herndon said. “It’s something we used to not deal with that we are starting to see to some degree.”
The board also approved a $9.51 million contract with Perkins & Will, Inc. for design services related to a new science building and backfill renovations at NE Campus. A $4.38 million agreement was awarded to Enviromatic Systems to replace the building automation system at TR Campus. Anglin cited repeated heating, ventilation and airconditioning system failures as the reason for the upgrade.
In addition, the board accepted a gift from SCH Homes to formally establish the Scott Simmons Endowed Scholarship, which supports students in the construction management program. The fund has since grown to nearly $140,000, according to TCC Foundation Executive Director Laure O’Neal.
SCH Homes President Neal Calhoun said the company chose TCC because of the alignment between the school’s mission and the values of Simmons, the company’s late founder.
“The average TCC student is working, taking night classes and just trying to improve themselves, and that was something that Scott would have really wanted to support,” Calhoun said.
SCH business administrator Stephanie Calhoun, who attended and graduated from TCC, said she understood what many TCC students are going through to pursue higher education.
“Just being within the community and really understanding the student body and that work life balance,” she said. “They want to continue their education but can’t afford to go to a four-year college.”
The board also updated its policy to align the timeline of faculty appeal panel elections with Faculty Association election cycles, according to General Counsel Antonio Allen.
Other changes tightened up the language used in the outside employment policy to clarify that a full-time employee’s first obligation is to the college district. No outside employment or activity should infringe on their duties, Allen said.
Finally, trustees approved an amendment to increase TCC’s child care agreement with Learning Care Group Inc. from $250,000 to $400,000. Isaac Rivera, District Director of Curriculum and Educational Planning, said the increase will expand services to approximately 27 students with 34 children.
