Tidehaven ISD
District Program and Facilities Advisory
Planning Committee Meeting/Board Workshop
January 20, 2009 

Summary of Meeting 

The meeting started at 7:00 p.m. with Dr. Suzanne Wesson welcoming the members, guests, and board members.  There were 14 members, 3 board members and 2 guests present. 

Dr. Wesson began the meeting at 6:58 p.m.  She introduced the guests, Mr. Lewis Wilks and Mr. Albert Soto.  Mr. Wilks is a financial advisor with Coastal Securities and Mr. Soto is the project architect from LaMarr Womack & Associates, the architectural firm chosen by the Board of Trustees. 

Mr. Soto presented the committee with a handout that included information concerning preparation of committees, guidelines for presenting bond election and construction information to various groups, and a tentative program of action to explain our school building program.  Mr. Soto explained that his firm will provide pre-design, design, schematic design and construction services.  Mr. Soto expressed an interest in trying to match some of the present architectural designs of our schools.  LaMarr Womack & Associates is an award winning firm located in Corpus Christi.  Copies of Mr. Soto’s handouts are available at the Administration Office. 

Mr. Lewis Wilks, of Coastal Securities, has over 23 years of experience working with school districts and his firm currently represents approximately 90 school districts, including many of the school districts surrounding Tidehaven.  The handout Mr. Wilks shared with the committee presented three possible scenarios concerning the purchase of bonds, including interest rates and repayment schedules.  The scenarios took into account the assumed growth rate of our district over the next five years.  Mr. Wilks explained how bonds are sold and how the district can use the bonds to meet their needs throughout the construction phase.  Included in the handout is an example of the impact a bond could have on homeowners.  The bond amount used by Mr. Wilks is only for purposes of creating the handout, he will adjust the figures once the architects present the Board of Trustees with their estimated cost of construction and renovation.  Copies of the handout are available at the Administration Office. 

The committee members decided to have their next meeting on February 3, 2009 in the High School LRC.  The meeting adjourned at 8:45 p.m.