Megan Navarro
DRIPPING SPRINGS — The Dripping Springs ISD Board of Trustees approved multiple items during its Monday, Dec. 15, meeting, including the schematic design for renovations at Rooster Springs Elementary School (RSES), construction documents for the 18+ Project and allocating funds for additional band instruments.
Rooster Springs
RSES opened in 2007 and is in its 18th year of operation, serving the Belterra neighborhood with a capacity of 850 students. In the May 2025 bond — which was approved by voters — capital improvements for the campus were included and then, the board of trustees awarded Pfluger Architects to oversee the project.
Over the past several months, Pfluger Architects worked on the project, in addition to meeting with district and campus personnel, and has completed the schematic design that was presented to the board during the Dec. 15 meeting.
The design includes several renovations for the next two years, of which are the following:
HVAC updates: Mechanical equipment replacements, construction of a new removable roof hatch, replacement of the outside air units with heat recovery units and general architectural renovations
Upgrades to electrical systems
Plumbing systems will be assessed and replaced as needed
Existing fire protection systems will be enhanced as needed
Video surveillance: Existing cameras to remain, but more locations will be added
Access control systems: Replace all existing card readers and access control devices to new district standards; all exterior doors will have a card reader and contact point; new doors with magnetic hold opens for use during lockdown will be installed to allow for automatic shutting of the doors; and more.
Communication system upgrades
Audio/visual upgrades
Floor and ceiling replacement
Additional second floor restroom
Upgrades to the finish on the exterior and interior
Trustee Rob McClelland noted that the HVAC system has been the worst problem, with some classrooms being too hot, while others are too cold. He also asked if the solution to the issues are being addressed in the scope of the project.
DSISD director of Construction & Planning James Conkle responded that the main issue stems from those being at least 20-year-old units, explaining that the pumps aren’t working quite right and it’s similar to a system in a house, where, after an extended period of time, it’s not going to work like it did when it was new.
Trustee Tricia Carpenter asked if the flooring is the same one that went into Dripping Springs Middle School.
Conkle said they are in the process of vetting new floors, adding that they went to Hutto last week to look at some new flooring that has a different kind of system because the glue was an issue last year with its wet application. However, it will stay within the same price point that doesn’t require waxing or stripping.
“I’ve heard a lot of complaining about the flooring that we’re putting in,” Quintero said. “It’s hurting the teachers’ backs, which I would prefer that they are walking and they are not getting their backs hurt at our schools.”
The board unanimously — with board president Stefani Reinold being absent — approved the schematic design for the renovations at RSES. The next phase is the design development, which will be brought forward for approval once completed.
DSISD 18+ Project
During its Oct. 27 meeting, the board approved the design development for the DSISD 18+ Project — the new Adult Transition Services Center that will serve 18- to 22-year-old special education students who have met graduation requirements, but require continued services for various skills. The students are able to participate in internships, apprenticeships and paid employment to prepare them for post-graduation through the program.
The program was previously housed in 40-year-old portables behind the high school, according to DSISD, and is now temporarily located at Wildwood Springs Elementary for the 2025-26 school year, until the new facility is available.
A groundbreaking ceremony was held Thursday, Nov. 13, at the southwest corner of Sawyer Ranch Road and Rachels Canyon Drive — where the new facility will be located — and the board approved Swinerton as the Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) contractor for this project Nov. 17.
The construction documents for the DSISD 18+ Project were unanimously approved by the board during its Dec. 15 meeting and now, it is anticipated that the first guaranteed maximum price for the project will be submitted in January 2026.
Band instruments
Every five years, the band directors develop an updated five-year plan to replace instruments and purchase additional pieces, based on the projected number of students who will participate — the most recent plan began in 2024-25 and ends in 2028-29.
The DSHS band director reached out about a month ago with a “good problem, but a bad problem,” explained deputy superintendent Elaine Cogburn, where there are more incoming students that play tuba than there are instruments. Originally, his request was going to be approximately $88,000 for additional tubas and sousaphones, but since he is working with area school districts to borrow instruments, the district would only need to purchase three new sousaphones for $39,741.39 to have enough for all of the students that are expected to play in the 2026-27 school year.
So, the request is for $40,000 for band instruments for the high school to accommodate the student need, Cogburn explained, from the 2018 bond funds, rather than doing it through the regular budget cycle.
“Because of the long lead item on these pieces of equipment, we are asking for additional funding, rather than running this through the regular budget cycle that would embark this spring,” Cogburn said.
Trustee Olivia Barnard questioned what borrowing instruments from another school district or campus looks like.
Cogburn responded, stating that it sounds like it’s a standard practice, but she has never seen an agreement between another district about that.
Barnard said that she would like for district staff to come back with further information on what exactly that would look like in terms of liability, etc. She added that she would like for the board to look at replacing the instruments that the district needs, funding the full request as a follow-up.
Trustee Shanda DeLeon asked about fees that band students would have to pay for renting instruments from the district or campus.
“It’s a very low fee … You have a couple of instruments. We have the marching band instrument and then, we have the other instrument that they play in class,” responded trustee Tricia Quintero. “It’s a low fee a year, so it wouldn’t be enough to actually cover the instrument cost. I am not well-versed on where that money is going.”
The deputy superintendent said that the fees typically goes to insurance to insure larger items.
Due to the strict timing on getting the funding allocated, the board unanimously approved the use of 2018 bond funds for additional band instruments for DSHS.
The DSISD Board meets next at 6 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 26.
