Wednesday, August 21, 2002
|
Wednesday, August 21, 2002 |
|
BOE splits 32 about 'Big Dig' at McIntosh By JOYCE BEVERLY
Comparing the renovation project at McIntosh High School to Boston's Big Dig, Fayette County School Board member Janet Smola Monday night expressed reservations about whether 26-hundredths of a percent difference in a bid for providing architectural design services was enough to justify awarding the contract to the low bidder. DWB, architect for Kedron, Sara Harp Minter, Cleveland and Crabapple elementary schools, bid 5.74 percent for architectural services for five major construction and renovation projects at McIntosh as well as kitchen renovations at East Fayette Elementary and Fayette Intermediate schools. Smola argued for awarding the contract to Manley Spangler Smith Architects, which submitted a bid of 6 percent for the same projects. Manley Spangler is architect for Whitewater High School. The firm also designed Sandy Creek High School. Describing the McIntosh High School project as "incredible intrusive," Smola told the board, "We're going to have to live with this. Despite the difference in the price, I would like for us to go with the architect with the most experience." Enrollment at McIntosh, presently at 1,510, is expected to reach 1,800 within the next few years. There is adequate classroom space to accommodate the growth, according to the school system's information office, but the school's core facility is already crowded. The new project calls for construction of a new physical education facility, renovating the kitchen, expanding the cafeteria, relocating the band and chorus rooms, and reworking the existing physical education facility into an auditorium. Board Member Marion Key shared Smola's concerns, stating that the architect's fee is just one thing to consider when making this decision. "Just because the architect's fee is the lowest does not mean the final fees will be lower," Key told the board. She said when she had visited high schools built by both architects, "I just plain like Manley Spangler's high schools better." Key also added that phone calls to staff members indicate many also prefer Manley Spangler. Key suggested that in the future the school system refrain from putting people on committees who have a direct interest in business concerns. She could not be reached Tuesday to elaborate on this comment. The school system's internal construction committee recommended to the board that the projects be awarded to DWB. Smola and Key were outvoted 3-2 in favor of the committee's recommendation. Crabapple Lane boundaries An update on proposed school boundaries for Crabapple Lane Elementary School was presented to the board by Stuart Bennett, assistant superintendent. The natural flow of traffic in that area was used to create the proposal, with Lake Kedron and Peachtree Parkway serving as dividing lines, he said. School officials are meeting with neighborhood associations for input and Bennett suggested that the map be presented and open for comment at the board's next work session. Crabapple is expected to open fall 2003 with an estimated enrollment of 429 students, though its students may initially attend a "school within a school" at Kedron Elementary, Bennett said. "The deadline of August is possible, and we will certainly shoot for it," Bennett said, "but the idea is to get it built with quality." Worst case scenario, Bennett said, students will move into the new facility at the semester point during the 2003-2004 school year. In other construction related discussions, the board unanimously awarded a contract to the low bidder for large equipment at Whitewater High School, where grading has begun. In other business: · The board approved a revised extracurricular activities policy which makes no-pass-no-play restrictions applicable equally to all sports. · The board approved a revised promotion-retention policy. · Dr. Sharon Boyer presented a revised health curriculum for grades K-9 for to the board for study. Seventh, eighth and ninth graders will receive abstinence-based instruction through a program entitled, "Choosing the Best," under the new plan. A copy of this curriculum will be in placed in the board room Wednesday, Aug. 21, for review by the public. · A curriculum for K-5 gifted programs was also presented to the board for study as well as a revised policy on student hearing tribunals.
|
||