Monday, June 26, 2017
howeenterprise.com
New school
Page #5
Continued from page 2
Howe ISD School Board President Greg Akins listens to a presentation on Tuesday night. effective to renovate the building." of the decision to do the whole said Wilson. "But we haven't thing. Along with the ADA made any decisions on that." accessibility being another factor." Stambaugh then told the board that any elderly people like him would not vote for any bond election for new construction.
After the discussion of the old school, Wilson got the meeting back on agenda and informed the board that he had discussed the delivery method options with Jimmy Don McMillion, the only Blake Styles of Athens ISD who other person in the room who had experience with both methods spoke against the new construction and preferred the Construction asked if the school board would be Manager Agent method. Wilson hiring the same architect that was said that he got the same used for the construction of the recommendation from Van Alstyne high school. ISD when they constructed their new elementary school. "A flat roof on a building won't work." said McMillion. "I asked in Akins said that he personally the main meeting south of town, preferred the agent method because 'why are you putting a flat roof on it would allow for local that building?' contractors. Board member Brad Anderson also was in favor Wilson said that he and the board because he felt that it was more would take into consideration the transparent and and allowed for request by McMillion. more control. The board had a discussion about the project which would eventually allow for the approximately 350-student intermediate school to expand into a 500-student elementary school.
Board member Jeff Denham, who is in the construction industry, talked at length with the members of the board of the pros and cons of each option.
"That would be a good size kindergarten through fifth grade elementary school," said Wilson.
An audience member, Micah Belden, stated that the agent method sounded more positive from a legal standpoint.
When discussions went towards renovating the 1938 building, Board Member Mark Abner clarified that the expense of renovation would be 90 percent of the cost of a new building and 80 years newer. "It is a structurally sound building," said Wilson. "But we have significant roof leaks, the bathrooms are not to code. There are no handicap entrances." Wilson stated that the renovation would still require new construction for additional classrooms which would take the $15 million renovation cost more than likely over the bond capacity that is available to the ISD. "I'll speak for the committee," said Wilson. "and putting that much money into a 100-year-old building didn't make sense because in 50 years, that will be a 150year-old building instead of a 50year-old building. That was part
all in the building, but it most likely will require a portable or two. The cafeteria capacity, the bathrooms, "I didn't hear the fiduciary on the the parking lot traffic are all issues. contractor at-risk side, but the When we keep putting kids on that fiduciary is not just your employee, one block, it's creating a lot of it's someone that owes that legal issues. Do we have to move duty of faith to you," said Belden. forward in November? No, but if "If they do something you don't, we're looking at some underhanded, that's a suit with other logistical problems that we're exemplary damages. The agent going to have to deal with." sounds a lot more positive." Wilson said that if they were Wilson asked the board if they comfortable moving forward, they were comfortable with a school on could take action to decide on a the current site of the delivery method and move forward administration office and if they and schedule interviews with were comfortable in moving architects and construction forward with a November bond managers within the next month and election. hire one in July which would call a bond election in early August. "To me that's where we are now. It's time to fish or cut bait," said "But if we don't make any decisions Wilson. "There's not a deadline on tonight, it is probably not us. We can handle growth this reasonable to do anything in school year, but if you look down November," said Wilson. "You're the line, in 2018-19, we'll be over probably looking at May." by 88 in every class in elementary school. That means we're going to The board voted to move forward need potentially four more classes with the Construction Manager in the next two years to house our Agent which pulled the trigger on a kids. We could probably put them future school to be constructed. The
recommendation to move forward was made by Abner and second by Board Member Clint Catching. The motion did not, however, guarantee that he old school would be removed and the new school would be built in its place. Akins made a statement that the project could still be placed on a different site should a better option become available. The board authorized Wilson to put out for RFQs (request for quotation), or interviews.
Howe ISD School Board Member Mark Abner.
