Wednesday, February 7, 2001

School construction programs approved

By MONROE ROARK
mroark@TheCitizenNews.com

The Fayette County Board of Education took steps Monday afternoon to get the ball rolling on construction of three elementary schools and a high school to be paid for by the newest bond referendum.

School Superintendent Dr. John DeCotis made the following recommendations concerning the elementary school construction program:

Select DWB Architects Inc. as the architect for all three elementary schools.

Accept DWB's offer to provide a full-time architectural representative at no charge.

Authorize the superintendent to develop a set of qualifications required by construction contractors so that contractors may be screened before being permitted to bid.

Direct the architect to develop preliminary plans and specifications, if feasible and resources become available, for bidding to add six classrooms to the elementary prototype design.

Develop a contract to address incentives and stipulations for completion of projects, and provide them on a project-by-project basis in case problems arise and someone else should be brought in for the second or third school project.

The last recommendation came as a result of discussion at Monday's work session and concerns that the school system be adequately protected in case work is not done properly.

DeCotis said that DWB has already developed a prototype elementary school plan and is ready to get to work as soon as possible.

As for the high school construction program, DeCotis recommended that an internal committee consisting of local engineers and other relevant staff meet with the architectural firm of Manley, Spangler and Smith to discuss the feasibility of using plans that company developed for Sandy Creek High School as a prototype for the new high school. He also recommended moving forward with plans for a construction management program, which board members agreed was imperative for construction of the high school and probably the best idea for the elementary schools as well.

Those recommendations were amended slightly when board member Greg Powers said that he wanted staff to proceed with looking at other architectural firms while meeting with Manley, Spangler and Smith, so that alternatives could be considered.

Both construction programs were approved unanimously.

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