July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.
Board reviews project (1/25/05)
Options would cut costs of school expansion/renovation
By By Jennifer Tarter-
The Jay School Board got its scissors out Monday night.
At their meeting, board members discussed how pieces of the proposed $26.6 million Jay County High School renovation project could be cut to reduce the total project cost.
Four new plans, totaling approximately $22.8 million, $21.7 million, $21.4 million and $14.3 million, were also discussed Monday.
The proposed $26.6 million project includes a $8,650,000 heating, ventilation and air conditioning system, a new $4.6 million 10-lane pool with diving well, a $3 million auxiliary gym and locker rooms, corridors and a lobby with an expected cost of $1.1 million. This project also includes plans to add approximately 140 parking spaces for $180,000, moving the central office to the high school for $450,000 and renovating the existing locker rooms for $310,000.
Also, $2.3 million has been estimated for renovation work on the vocational area, and $1.1 million for construction of classrooms in the existing pool area. The project total also includes an estimated $4,977,000 for legal costs, interest, vocational equipment, architect and construction manager fees.
One option, which totals $22.8 million, includes building an eight-lane pool for $3.6 million in the current pool space, constructing a smaller auxiliary gym for $2.1 million and completing the remaining projects as planned. This total includes a reduction in non-constructional costs and doesn’t include relocation of the central office and construction of classrooms in the pool area.
Another proposal, which totals $21.7 million, calls for rebuilding the school’s existing pool and creating a new six-lane pool in its place for $2 million and adding spectator seating in the pool area for an estimated $250,000. The size of the auxiliary gym will be reduced and will cost $2.5 million to build. The remaining projects were not changed, but this option doesn’t include the relocation of the central office or construction of classrooms in the pool area. Non-construction costs totaled $4.3 million.
A third option, estimated at $21.4 million, includes all of the elements of the proposed $26.6 million project but pulls out approximately $4.2 million from the HVAC project. Under a state statute, it could be financed separately over 10 years from the corporation’s Capital Projects Fund. This law allows for this payment plan for energy saving projects, according to information provided by Jay Schools business manager Brad DeRome.
Yet another option with a price tag of $14.3 million, the HVAC project will be completed for $8,650,000 and renovation of the vocational area will be completed for $2.3 million. This total also includes approximately $3.3 million in non-construction costs.
“There are a lot of numbers to throw around. There are five options when we could have made 20,” board member Brian Alexander told the handful of people at Monday’s meeting at JCHS.
Board members took no action to advertise for a preliminary determination hearing, which would be the next step in proceeding with the project.
“It is my recommendation not to advertise for a preliminary determination hearing ... I still think there are solid pieces there, and we are in good standing,” Downing said, mentioning a 120-day moratorium on all school projects that would require issuing bonds which was imposed by Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels in his State of the State address on Jan. 18.
Board member Mike Shannon suggested the additional parking, gymnastics area and building classrooms in the current pool space should be deleted from the plan.
“There are some things on here we could delete pretty easily,” Shannon said, adding he is in favor of building an eight-lane pool and not “putting a Band-Aid on” the problems with the current pool.
Board member Frank Vormohr was in favor of making cuts to all projects. He also suggested holding another public hearing.
“We’ve got the time. Let’s use it,” he said.
Board member Mike Masters told the board he was “pleased that we are at this point and lowering (the total cost).
“I want to see a much smaller number,” he added.
Alexander told the board “if we’re going to do it, let’s pull the trigger.
“I don’t want to cut corners to pacify people. I think we should do it, and we should be able to stay under $20 million,” Alexander said.
After some discussion, board members gave Downing the nod to find a third party to evaluate the school’s current HVAC system.
Also Monday, the board voted to grant Downing permission to pursue a waiver from the Indiana Department of Education for two days of school missed in September because of fog and nine delayed or missed school days this month because of the Jan. 5 ice storm, the extended power outage and flooding.
If a waiver is not granted, the last day of school for students will be June 7, pushed back from May 27.
Graduation is now set for June 5.
Downing said it could take as long as three months to hear if the waiver will be approved by the DOE.
In other business, board members approved a memorandum of understanding, defining the positions of occupational therapist, occupational therapist assistant and athletic trainer.
The corporation plans to advertise and hire people for these positions.
DeRome reported the school’s contract with MidWest Health Strategies ended on Jan. 20, following notice from the company that it plans to terminate its contract with the corporation before the 2004-05 school year has ended.
Also Monday, board members:
•Accepted a $16,010 federally-funded grant through the DOE for site training for teachers to learn how to use new educational software.
•Heard DeRome report the 2005 budget has been approved at $29,000,577, which is $339,821 less than advertised and $442,250 less than the corporation’s 2004 budget.
•Heard DeRome report the corporation completed its second year in a row in the black. The general fund totaled more than $200,000 at the end of 2004.
•Approved a transfer of $40,000 of unused and unencumbered funds raised by a general or special tax levy to the corporation’s rainy day fund.
•Approved the corporation’s 2005-06 school calendar. Students will begin school on Aug. 19, and school will end on May 25, 2006.
•Elected board president Doug Inman, who was absent Monday, as president of the board’s finance committee and board member Jay Halstead as executive secretary.[[In-content Ad]]
At their meeting, board members discussed how pieces of the proposed $26.6 million Jay County High School renovation project could be cut to reduce the total project cost.
Four new plans, totaling approximately $22.8 million, $21.7 million, $21.4 million and $14.3 million, were also discussed Monday.
The proposed $26.6 million project includes a $8,650,000 heating, ventilation and air conditioning system, a new $4.6 million 10-lane pool with diving well, a $3 million auxiliary gym and locker rooms, corridors and a lobby with an expected cost of $1.1 million. This project also includes plans to add approximately 140 parking spaces for $180,000, moving the central office to the high school for $450,000 and renovating the existing locker rooms for $310,000.
Also, $2.3 million has been estimated for renovation work on the vocational area, and $1.1 million for construction of classrooms in the existing pool area. The project total also includes an estimated $4,977,000 for legal costs, interest, vocational equipment, architect and construction manager fees.
One option, which totals $22.8 million, includes building an eight-lane pool for $3.6 million in the current pool space, constructing a smaller auxiliary gym for $2.1 million and completing the remaining projects as planned. This total includes a reduction in non-constructional costs and doesn’t include relocation of the central office and construction of classrooms in the pool area.
Another proposal, which totals $21.7 million, calls for rebuilding the school’s existing pool and creating a new six-lane pool in its place for $2 million and adding spectator seating in the pool area for an estimated $250,000. The size of the auxiliary gym will be reduced and will cost $2.5 million to build. The remaining projects were not changed, but this option doesn’t include the relocation of the central office or construction of classrooms in the pool area. Non-construction costs totaled $4.3 million.
A third option, estimated at $21.4 million, includes all of the elements of the proposed $26.6 million project but pulls out approximately $4.2 million from the HVAC project. Under a state statute, it could be financed separately over 10 years from the corporation’s Capital Projects Fund. This law allows for this payment plan for energy saving projects, according to information provided by Jay Schools business manager Brad DeRome.
Yet another option with a price tag of $14.3 million, the HVAC project will be completed for $8,650,000 and renovation of the vocational area will be completed for $2.3 million. This total also includes approximately $3.3 million in non-construction costs.
“There are a lot of numbers to throw around. There are five options when we could have made 20,” board member Brian Alexander told the handful of people at Monday’s meeting at JCHS.
Board members took no action to advertise for a preliminary determination hearing, which would be the next step in proceeding with the project.
“It is my recommendation not to advertise for a preliminary determination hearing ... I still think there are solid pieces there, and we are in good standing,” Downing said, mentioning a 120-day moratorium on all school projects that would require issuing bonds which was imposed by Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels in his State of the State address on Jan. 18.
Board member Mike Shannon suggested the additional parking, gymnastics area and building classrooms in the current pool space should be deleted from the plan.
“There are some things on here we could delete pretty easily,” Shannon said, adding he is in favor of building an eight-lane pool and not “putting a Band-Aid on” the problems with the current pool.
Board member Frank Vormohr was in favor of making cuts to all projects. He also suggested holding another public hearing.
“We’ve got the time. Let’s use it,” he said.
Board member Mike Masters told the board he was “pleased that we are at this point and lowering (the total cost).
“I want to see a much smaller number,” he added.
Alexander told the board “if we’re going to do it, let’s pull the trigger.
“I don’t want to cut corners to pacify people. I think we should do it, and we should be able to stay under $20 million,” Alexander said.
After some discussion, board members gave Downing the nod to find a third party to evaluate the school’s current HVAC system.
Also Monday, the board voted to grant Downing permission to pursue a waiver from the Indiana Department of Education for two days of school missed in September because of fog and nine delayed or missed school days this month because of the Jan. 5 ice storm, the extended power outage and flooding.
If a waiver is not granted, the last day of school for students will be June 7, pushed back from May 27.
Graduation is now set for June 5.
Downing said it could take as long as three months to hear if the waiver will be approved by the DOE.
In other business, board members approved a memorandum of understanding, defining the positions of occupational therapist, occupational therapist assistant and athletic trainer.
The corporation plans to advertise and hire people for these positions.
DeRome reported the school’s contract with MidWest Health Strategies ended on Jan. 20, following notice from the company that it plans to terminate its contract with the corporation before the 2004-05 school year has ended.
Also Monday, board members:
•Accepted a $16,010 federally-funded grant through the DOE for site training for teachers to learn how to use new educational software.
•Heard DeRome report the 2005 budget has been approved at $29,000,577, which is $339,821 less than advertised and $442,250 less than the corporation’s 2004 budget.
•Heard DeRome report the corporation completed its second year in a row in the black. The general fund totaled more than $200,000 at the end of 2004.
•Approved a transfer of $40,000 of unused and unencumbered funds raised by a general or special tax levy to the corporation’s rainy day fund.
•Approved the corporation’s 2005-06 school calendar. Students will begin school on Aug. 19, and school will end on May 25, 2006.
•Elected board president Doug Inman, who was absent Monday, as president of the board’s finance committee and board member Jay Halstead as executive secretary.[[In-content Ad]]
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