Aquatics center nears completion after months of delay

The Boerne ISD has been told that May 28 marks the “substantial completion” date for its Aquatics Learning Center — nine months later than the project’s original completion date.

Boerne ISD board and administration met May 5 with management from Tegrity Contractors, the firm hired in summer 2023 to build the $8.7 million facility, approved by Boerne voters in the 2022 bond election.

“We see the progression; we’re making up time. But we’re also seeing if we have any struggles,” Ramiro Gurrero, Boerne executive director of operations, told the school board at the May 5 meeting.

Site visits are being conducted twice daily, Guerrero said, “to make sure there is activity going on. We review and verify all the warranties ... to make sure we’re asking for extended warranties due to the delays of this project.”

Boerne ISD broke ground Sept. 19, 2023, on the facility, with an estimated August 2024 completion date.

That didn’t happen. “I know this project has been a source of frustration,” Caleb Beets, Tegrity’s chief operations officer, told Boerne trustees. “I’m happy to be a part of the solution, even though our team did create the problem.”

Guerrero reviewed some of the milestones Tegrity ensured the district will see this month after admitting, “There’s been a lot of frustration with this project” and project overrun.

“I do believe,” Beets said, “we are hitting the markers we need to hit to reach substantial completion.” But even if the May 28 date is reached, there will not be any swimming activity any time soon, Dr. Kristin Craft, Boerne superintendent, said.

“There’s a significant amount of training that needs to happen,” Craft said. “(Athletic Director Stan) Leech, his staff, operations, maintenance — they need to go through training all summer long. And we need to hire the person who is going to be responsible for this beautiful site.”

Tegrity's timeline showed pouring of the pool’s concrete deck and completion of security fencing during the week of May 12-16.

This week, according to Tegrity, the guide shows striping of the parking lot and installation of deck equipment, ahead of the substantial completion date of May 28.