In a move to swiftly address extensive damage after a series of mishaps, Boerne Independent School District, located northwest of San Antonio, has bypassed usual procedures for handling large-scale repairs. According to a report by the San Antonio Report, the district's school board enacted an emergency action allowing them to forego the standard bidding process mandated by Texas law for the use of tax dollars in school district purchases. This law typically requires considerations of cost, quality, and vendor reputation among other factors, and a comparison of multiple vendors to secure the best deal.
The decision came in the wake of a fire and two separate incidents involving accidental triggering of sprinkler systems at three different schools late last month. The first incident, occurring June 28, involved severe library flooding at Cibolo Creek Elementary School after a subcontractor hit a fire sprinkler line, details of which were mentioned in board resolutions though specific consequences for the subcontractor remain unclear. The next day saw Boerne High School grappling with a fire, reportedly caused by a lighting equipment box, that led to damage in the school’s auditorium/stage, band hall, and an adjacent hallway, as "the preliminary investigation shows the cause of the fire was a lighting equipment box," said City of Boerne's director of communications, Chris Shadrock, in a statement obtained by the San Antonio Report.
School districts can use the emergency exception when competitive procurement would "substantially prevent or substantially impair the conduct of classes or other school activities," suggested a statement from Tracy Ginsburg, the executive director of the Texas Association of School Business Officials. Boerne ISD’s board documents indicate the severity of the damage met this threshold. Furthermore, an unspecified incident at Curington Elementary School called for emergency action as well, after another subcontractor failed to shut off fire risers before cutting a line, causing additional flooding.
The emergency meeting held by the district was not live-streamed, but a district spokesperson, Bryan Benway, indicated it would be shared within the following week and declined to provide specific details on the incidents or the suspension of the traditional procurement process. In an emailed statement, he expressed gratitude toward the maintenance and security teams for their efficient response, and extended thanks to The Boerne Fire Department for their prompt action. "We are grateful to our maintenance team, as well as safety and security team, for their quick response to assess the damage," Benway stated, highlighting the cohesive efforts made in light of the recent emergencies.
