SISD Trustee to depart for temporary contract-job in Alaska

Bright committed to staying involved despite not being physically present

(Seguin) – The Seguin ISD Board of Trustees will be trucking along these next two months without one of its own. District 7 Trustee Josh Bright on Saturday departed for a short term contracting position along the Bering Sea in Alaska. Bright, who served in the military, says although he won’t physically be present on the school board until Oct.1, his commitment to the district will be ongoing.

“I will still be in my role as a board member, I just won’t be present at the meetings. I will still be looking and reading through the agendas, and I will still be going through all of the items, participating in the meetings and with the board as much as I possibly can during this time. I’m just asking for a little bit of patience with my constituents. If they need something from me, to give me one or two days to get back to them versus like right now, I am able to do it rather quickly,” said Bright.

Bright says this job goes hand in hand with what he was doing while in the Navy. Plus, he says it was just too good of an opportunity to pass up for his family. He says the decision to accept the job was reinforced with the district’s support and acknowledgment that he could still be involved in the district’s decision-making while away.

“I’m not going to be completely untouchable. I will still be able to check my emails and get on Facebook and do all those things and if I have to, there is a way for me to place phone calls and call people. It’s not like I’m going to a dark hole somewhere and no one will be able to get a hold of me,” said Bright.

Contact information for Bright is available via his Josh Bright for Seguin ISD Board District 7 Facebook page. Those needing immediate assistance are asked to contact a Seguin ISD board member.

Seguin ISD selects, begins negotiations with contractor for new athletic complex

(Seguin) – Contract negotiations have officially begun for the construction of Seguin High School’s new baseball and softball complex. Leading the pack of sealed bids was local contractor The Koehler Company. The Seguin ISD Board of Trustees on Tuesday approved the start of negotiations between the local company and Superintendent Dr. Matthew Gutierrez.

Providing insight into the process and bringing the recommendation of the Koehler Company to the school board was Perla Romero, the Seguin ISD director of business services. During her recommendation, Romero shared new developments in the voter approved price tag.

“This one is going to be a little different because as you all know, the bond for the softball/ baseball field is for $7.5 million. However, due to the time that has passed and inflation, The Koehler Company which is the general contractor we are recommending came in at $9.6 million. With that being said, we are recommending that you authorize Dr. Gutierrez to negotiate and possibly execute a contract with The Koehler Company as a general contractor for this project,” said Romero. Tony Hillberg, chief financial officer, says although the bid came in higher, the district remains optimistic that negotiations will work in the favor of both parties. Complex, pg. 3

Shooting, continued.

Approximately 15 rounds were fired during the incident. Officials say all three subjects were injured with non-life-threatening injuries.

Two of the victims were treated and released at a local hospital. The third victim was transferred to a San Antonio hospital.

Investigators say the identities of the suspects are not yet known.

Anyone with information on the incident is asked to contact the Guadalupe County Sheriff’s Office at 830-379-1224. Those who wish to remain anonymous are asked to call the Guadalupe County Crime Stoppers at 1-877403-8477 (TIPS).

Complex, continued.

“The conversations that we are having at the administrative level right now is our architect and general contractor and Mr. (James) Pizana (director of facilities and maintenance) will work together line by line going through the details to find areas where we can get a product within the bond value with the understanding that we want the full scope but not necessarily upfront. Now whether we can do that or not, time will tell, and we will keep the board posted and so that’s why we are asking right now just for the opportunity to negotiate to see if we can come up with a product that will fit our needs within the available budget,” said Hillberg.

The two other companies participating in the bidding process included Hellas at $10.8 million and O’Haver coming in at $9.5 million. The overall selection was not only based on the price, but the overall score received by each company.

Those scores included Koehler Company 60; Hellas 51 and O’Haver 53.

The scoresheet rated price, overall experience, experience with Seguin ISD; last five projects, project team, safety, overall grasp of project and sub-contractors to be used.

Trustee Cinde Thomas-Jimenez says she was excited to hear that the Koehler Company had topped the list of bids. She says the company has always come through in meeting the needs of the district.

“I just want to say how happy I was to see their name on this half sheet. They saved us when we were building the high school. Ya’ll really did so I think it’s just fitting that the Koehler Company finishes out the footprint and thanks for the Koehler Company for always striving to improve the Seguin ISD. You are part of the Matador Family,” said Jimenez.

The project will return the baseball field to the high school campus. The team for several years has played at the city of Seguin’s Smokey Joe Field located at the Seguin Events Complex. The complex will also include a new softball field. The athletic complex will be located south of the campus off of East College Street.

Montanez

Flora B. Montanez, age 83 of Seguin, passed away on July 20, 2023. Flora was born on October 13, 1939, in Seguin, Texas, to Anita (Rojas) and Julian Belmarez.

Flora was preceded in death by her parents, her grandson, Refugio Sosa, III, sisters, Rosa Torres, and Geronima Belmarez, and brothers Steve Velasquez and Julio Velasquez.

Survivors include her daughter, Erlinda Sosa and, husband Ray, Jesse Montanez, Jr. and, wife Cynthia, Johnny Montanez, Sr. and, his wife Sarah, James Montanez, and his wife Jeanette; sisters, Mary Medina and Gloria Moreno; ten grandchildren; numerous great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, other loving family members and friends.

Visitation will begin on Sunday, July 23, 2023, at 4 p.m. followed by the recitation of the Holy Rosary at 6 p.m. at Tres Hewell Mortuary Chapel with Deacon Nick Carrillo officiating. A procession will depart Tres Hewell Mortuary Chapel at 9:30 a.m. on Monday, July 24, 2023, for the Mass of Christian Burial at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church. Interment will follow in San Geronimo Cemetery.

Serving as pallbearers will be James Montanez, Luis Belmarez, Christopher Medina, Randy Sosa, Johnny Montanez, Jr., and Jesse Montanez, III.

You are invited to sign the guestbook at www.treshewell.com. Arrangements are under the direction of Tres Hewell Mortuary, 165 Tor Dr., Seguin, Texas, 78155, 830-549-5912.