By Edmond Ortiz
Staff Writer

The Schertz-Cibolo-Univer-sal City School District now has a contractor working on the last of its major construction projects from the 2006 bond issue.

The school board Feb. 26 awarded a $19.1 million bid to Satterfield and Pontikes Construction Inc. for development of Elaine Schlather Intermediate School at Green Valley Road and Cibolo Valley Drive.

Wade Hawkins, facilities and construction director for SCUCISD, said the district could break ground on Schlather in mid-March. Construction is estimated to reach completion in May 2009, with the school opening for the 2009-10 academic year.

Once development on this project begins, five new schools in SCUC will be under construction simultaneously.

“It’s an extreme time around here,” Hawkins said. He added that projected savings from this and other 2006 bond projects means district officials may soon have to talk with members of the committee that oversees facilities and improvement about how those extra monies could be applied.

In other action Feb. 26, board members:

• Approved a schematic design for the Connor Agri-cultural Complex replacement near Wiederstein Elementary School. The new structure will feature increased space requested by faculty and parent boosters of ag students.

• Received an update about a previously proposed collaboration with the city of Schertz, which plans to proceed with building a recreation center at Schertz Parkway and Elbel Road, using monies from the 2006 city bond issue.

The recreation center would be located near the new city library, where construction has just begun.

Pustka last summer said SCUC had been offered a chance to take part by providing some heating and coverage equipment for an open natatorium if that were come to fruition at the rec center.

In exchange, competitive swim teams from the district could get to work out at the new facility, and perhaps second-grade students could have swim classes there.

But in recent talks, Schertz officials said the city plans to have a smaller pool as part of the rec center.

Considering that and maintenance costs, SCUC and the city determined such collaboration is not feasible at this time.