Bond-related renovation projects at Howard College should begin within the next three months, officials said.

College trustees will continue to fine-tune plans for bond projects when they hold their  monthly meeting at 12:30 p.m. Monday in the Student Union Building Tumbleweed Room.

College President Dr. Cheryl Sparks said the first phase of projects authorized by voters in 2007 should begin by mid-August. Before then, however, college officials want to finalize cost estimates for the many projects to be covered by the $23 million bond.

“We're continuing to meet with (project engineers) Parkhill, Smith and Cooper and Construction Manager Lee George,” Sparks said. “We will have a workshop in June and at that time we should finalize plans and cost estimates.

“At this time, Parkhill, Smith and Cooper is preparing documents for review and cost estimates to present to the board,” she added.

Sparks said taking more than a year between the election and actual construction work proved to be the right approach.

“I'm sure people are ready for us to begin work,” she said. “It has just taken time to get all the information that's required for this project, plus we spent a lot of time debating whether we wanted to renovate existing buildings or construct new ones. It's been a methodical process, but well worth the time spent.”

If all goes according to plan, the first phase of renovation — overhauling utility systems throughout the campus — should begin in the summer. The second phase, which will be highlighted by the construction of new science laboratories, is set for sometime this autumn.

Another building project — construction of a Workforce Training Center at SouthWest Collegiate Institute for the Deaf — will also be addressed by trustees Monday.

Sparks said trustees are expected to name a construction manager for the SWCID project Monday, with work scheduled to begin later this month.

The WTC will be constructed east of the campus dormitories and will house SWCID's building trades, automotive repair and welding programs once it is completed this autumn. The college has received $1 million from the Texas Legislature, which should cover most, if not all, construction costs, Sparks said.

In other business Monday, trustees will consider:

• Personnel matters.

• Election of new board officers.

• Bids for computer and custodial equipment and chiller renovation at the San Angelo campus.

• Handbook and catalog changes.

Contact Staff Writer Steve Reagan at 263-7331 ext. 234 or by e-mail at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it