Three Rivers Independent School District – ESPC and Project Services

Located in Three Rivers, TX, the Three Rivers Independent School District (TRISD) mission is to provide every student with a quality education that empowers them to lead, achieve their full potential and actively contribute to their community.

This mission exemplifies the care and future-focused vision held by TRISD leadership and staff. With an average yearly enrollment of over 700 students and a nearly 100% graduation rate, TRISD identified the need for updates to the Three Rivers High School facilities and, additionally, Three Rivers Elementary School. These updates covered numerous areas of the school and the systems serving the buildings, including mechanical and electrical systems.

Prior to McKinstry’s involvement beginning in 2022, TRISD had partnered with a different services provider whose work did not meet the district’s needs and resulted in a large amount of work still needing to be performed. TRISD went out for bond to the community and received approval to move forward with multiple projects, including Phase 1 roof repairs, a kitchen remodel, gymnasium remodel and a Phase 2 remodel of the Ag Science Shop.

Location:

Three Rivers, TX

Buildings Assessed

Market

K-12 Education

Services Provided

Energy Savings Performance Contract (ESPC)

Lighting

Building Controls

Optimization

HVAC

Electrical Upgrades

Three Rivers ISD ESPC Projects
When McKinstry first established our partnership with TRISD, thehighest priority was to provide systems and solutions that would not only meet the physical needs of their spaces but also create energy savings the district would realize quickly. With a solid understanding of TRISD’s needs and funding thanks to a maintenance tax note, McKinstry implemented the initial ESPCwork and repairs, including:

•HVAC Replacement
•Programmable Thermostats
•Retro-Commissioning
•LED Lighting Upgrades
•Pest Control/Insulation Repair
•Roofing Improvements
•Drainage Improvements

This initial work helped TRISD get to a better state of function and safety to begin moving forward withthe phased project approach established from the information gained during the ESPC work.

Phase 1

Following the ESPC 2022 work, TRISD went out for bond to receive funding for the phased work they were seeking to begin in 2024. Due to the importance of agriculture within the community, the bond was approved with specific funds designated foran extensive upgrade to the existing agriculture science shop (Phase 2). With the establishment of the bond funds, McKinstry began Phase 1 work on the TRISD facilities including:

•Bus Awning Lighting Replacements
•TPO Roof Overlay
•Kitchen Equipment Replacement
•Bus Drive Awning Repair
•Agriculture Barn Floor Refinishing
•Elementary Gym Flooring Replacement
•Bulldog Statue Refinishing

With these first-phase projects, community and district trust began to grow and planning for Phase 2 work began. The McKinstry team strategically selected these projects first, knowing they would be quick, successful and impactful for the students.As Phase 1 waned and planning for Phase Two began, the primary focus shifted to the Agricultural (Ag) Science Shop.

Phase 2 – Agricultural Science Shopand Additional Work
The Ag Science Shop is a specialized program that is deeply important to Three Rivers ISD and the community overall. It was designed to help students learn skills related to agricultural trades, with one of the most critical being metal work. When designating bond approval and spending, the Three Rivers community chose to allocate available funds to the Ag Science Shop remodel instead of athletics, due to concerns over a lack of investment in agriculture at the time.

Understanding the type of work being performed in the shop—and the passion for metal work many students in the program had—the remodel quickly became a project close to the McKinstry team’s hearts. After a thorough review of the existing equipment and facility, McKinstry began work on the remodel and additional TRISD work, including:

•Ag Shop Welding Equipment Upgrades
•Ag Shop Addition and Renovation
•LED Lighting
•Plumbing Fixtures
•Electrical Upgrades
•Concrete Floor Refinishing/Polishing

McKinstry’s team members reached out to industry contacts, when possible, to help obtain the best equipment while respecting project budgets to maximize program impact. With the shop now in operation, approximately 80% of Three Rivers High School students participate in Ag programs.

Looking Ahead – Phase 3 and Beyond
Currently, the TRISD project is preparing to enter Phase 3, with work including parking lot reconstruction and further structural and drainage repairs. With this new phase beginning, TRISD is planning for its next bond process to begin later this year. This new bond will aim to fulfill athletic-related needs that were not met with previous bond funds, including sports field remediation, CTE building renovations, and additional HVAC, lighting and roofing upgrades.

The current and future work with TRISD highlights the importance of strong relationships built on shared goals between McKinstry and our clients. For many communities, it can be difficult to find a partner who not only understands the needs specific to community members but who also shares a passion to see those needs fulfilled. For TRISD, boosting agricultural training and skills was of the highest importance, while also raising the standard of education and safety for all students. With McKinstry sharing these goals, the overwhelming success of the work performed at TRISD has helped build trust and new opportunities that will continue into the future.