Warsaw Sees New Schools Complete By 2010
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By David [email protected]
Monday night, Jamie Lake, of Kovert Hawkins architectural firm, Jeffersonville, gave the Warsaw Community School Board an update on the project. He presented concept renderings and floor plans for the new Madison and Leesburg schools and the renovation plans for Jefferson and Claypool schools.[[In-content Ad]]On May 21, the school board approved moving forward with Step 1 of Option A. Step 1 originally included replacing Leesburg Elementary with a new four-section school for $16 million; expanding and renovating Claypool and Jefferson schools for $10 million each; and replacing Madison with a new four-section school for $16 million. The total bond issue for Step 1 was estimated by architectural firm Kovert Hawkins to be $65 million.
The State Tax Control Board approved Warsaw's building project and forwarded a favorable recommendation to Commissioner Cheryl Musgrave in August. Musgrave approved the project in December at $59.16 million. With the cut down from $65 million, Lake said Monday that Madison's construction and bond issue cost will be $15 million, Jefferson at $9.5 million, Claypool at $8.5 million and Leesburg at $15 million.
Lake said they are making progress on construction documents.
The construction documents for the new Madison and Leesburg school are very similar. Each school has four "wings," and the gym is in the rear. The concept rendering for the exterior look is "eloquent but simple," said Lake. The two schools each will have bell towers.
For the Jefferson renovation, the 1950s wing of the building will be torn down to make room for a two-story building. The primary grades will be on the first floor of the school, with third- and sixth-grade classrooms on the second floor. Special education classes also will be on the first floor. The 1970s wing of the building will be gutted and reconfigured.
"Jefferson is an extremely challenging project, but a lot of fun," Lake said.
Dan Robinson, school board vice president, asked what the plan was for school to continue at Jefferson while the construction was occurring. Lake said some classes will have to be relocated, possibly to portables, during the construction. He said Jefferson Principal Dennis Duncan was working with Kovert Hawkins on that issue. Warsaw Schools Superintendent Dr. Robert Haworth said it will be a challenge.
Claypool, Lake said, "is actually the easiest to work on." It is the newest building, and there's enough land to work on the renovation.
Claypool's entrance will be pushed out so it can be seen. It will get a new kitchen and cafeteria, and a drive will be built all around the school. With the additional classrooms and work, the school building will be pushed northward. The school will about double in size.
Lake also presented a tentative timeline for the projects.
On Sept. 8, the Leesburg and Madison projects will be released for bidding. A week later, Jefferson and Claypool will be released. Construction bids will be received for Leesburg and Madison on Oct. 7, with construction bids received for Jefferson and Claypool on Oct. 14.
On Oct. 20, the school board will award each of the construction contracts and authorize the financial manager to sell construction bonds. Construction then will begin Nov. 1, with the buildings opening Aug. 1, 2010.
"We're working hard," said Lake, "and we'll continue to work hard."
A woman in the audience asked if a site for the new Madison school had been found. Haworth said they have looked at a couple of sites. Core drilling is occurring at one site now to see if it will meet specifications. The same is occurring for the new Leesburg school. Haworth said they want to do their homework before the school corporation purchases any property. Drainage in the county also is an issue.
Robinson will join Haworth and Chief Financial Officer Kevin Scott in working with Silver Lake to dispose of the old Silver Lake school. Robinson asked if they could just donate the building to the township. Speaking for the township, Molly Bradford said there is no way the township could take it. Bradford said they are all ready for the school to be taken down.
At the end of the 2003-04 school year, Atwood, Silver Lake and Claypool elementary schools were closed. Since then, students at those schools have been transported to other schools, contributing to overcrowding problems.
The school board awarded the contract for the construction of the soccer-tennis facility at the high school to Ancon Construction Co. for $364,000. The facility will include team locker rooms, a concession stand, ticketing and public restrooms for the soccer and tennis programs. The project will be funded primarily by prior year Capital Projects Fund carryover. Ancon was the lowest bidder, with other bids ranging from $370,500 to $405,000. Director of Maintenance Greg Schroeder said the cost is more than was expected due to infrastructure improvements.
Schroeder then recommended Morris & Sons Roofing be awarded the Warsaw Community High School roofing project for $313,400. The roof areas at the Career Center and pool will be addressed. While six companies were interested, Schroeder said only two made a bid. The cost came in under expectation.
The third recommendation from Schroeder was that Performance Services' proposal for a guaranteed energy savings project at WCHS be accepted. The contract for the project will go before the board May 19. The project is structured to be revenue neutral. Energy cost savings are expected to offset future lease-purchase bond payments that will be made through the Capital Projects Fund.
Transportation Director Della Swain recommended the purchase of six new school buses for $587,416, which was approved. The purchase will include two 66-passenger conventional buses, two 66-passenger conventional buses with handicap lift and two 84-passenger transit style buses. The board accepted the recommendation.
Monday night, Jamie Lake, of Kovert Hawkins architectural firm, Jeffersonville, gave the Warsaw Community School Board an update on the project. He presented concept renderings and floor plans for the new Madison and Leesburg schools and the renovation plans for Jefferson and Claypool schools.[[In-content Ad]]On May 21, the school board approved moving forward with Step 1 of Option A. Step 1 originally included replacing Leesburg Elementary with a new four-section school for $16 million; expanding and renovating Claypool and Jefferson schools for $10 million each; and replacing Madison with a new four-section school for $16 million. The total bond issue for Step 1 was estimated by architectural firm Kovert Hawkins to be $65 million.
The State Tax Control Board approved Warsaw's building project and forwarded a favorable recommendation to Commissioner Cheryl Musgrave in August. Musgrave approved the project in December at $59.16 million. With the cut down from $65 million, Lake said Monday that Madison's construction and bond issue cost will be $15 million, Jefferson at $9.5 million, Claypool at $8.5 million and Leesburg at $15 million.
Lake said they are making progress on construction documents.
The construction documents for the new Madison and Leesburg school are very similar. Each school has four "wings," and the gym is in the rear. The concept rendering for the exterior look is "eloquent but simple," said Lake. The two schools each will have bell towers.
For the Jefferson renovation, the 1950s wing of the building will be torn down to make room for a two-story building. The primary grades will be on the first floor of the school, with third- and sixth-grade classrooms on the second floor. Special education classes also will be on the first floor. The 1970s wing of the building will be gutted and reconfigured.
"Jefferson is an extremely challenging project, but a lot of fun," Lake said.
Dan Robinson, school board vice president, asked what the plan was for school to continue at Jefferson while the construction was occurring. Lake said some classes will have to be relocated, possibly to portables, during the construction. He said Jefferson Principal Dennis Duncan was working with Kovert Hawkins on that issue. Warsaw Schools Superintendent Dr. Robert Haworth said it will be a challenge.
Claypool, Lake said, "is actually the easiest to work on." It is the newest building, and there's enough land to work on the renovation.
Claypool's entrance will be pushed out so it can be seen. It will get a new kitchen and cafeteria, and a drive will be built all around the school. With the additional classrooms and work, the school building will be pushed northward. The school will about double in size.
Lake also presented a tentative timeline for the projects.
On Sept. 8, the Leesburg and Madison projects will be released for bidding. A week later, Jefferson and Claypool will be released. Construction bids will be received for Leesburg and Madison on Oct. 7, with construction bids received for Jefferson and Claypool on Oct. 14.
On Oct. 20, the school board will award each of the construction contracts and authorize the financial manager to sell construction bonds. Construction then will begin Nov. 1, with the buildings opening Aug. 1, 2010.
"We're working hard," said Lake, "and we'll continue to work hard."
A woman in the audience asked if a site for the new Madison school had been found. Haworth said they have looked at a couple of sites. Core drilling is occurring at one site now to see if it will meet specifications. The same is occurring for the new Leesburg school. Haworth said they want to do their homework before the school corporation purchases any property. Drainage in the county also is an issue.
Robinson will join Haworth and Chief Financial Officer Kevin Scott in working with Silver Lake to dispose of the old Silver Lake school. Robinson asked if they could just donate the building to the township. Speaking for the township, Molly Bradford said there is no way the township could take it. Bradford said they are all ready for the school to be taken down.
At the end of the 2003-04 school year, Atwood, Silver Lake and Claypool elementary schools were closed. Since then, students at those schools have been transported to other schools, contributing to overcrowding problems.
The school board awarded the contract for the construction of the soccer-tennis facility at the high school to Ancon Construction Co. for $364,000. The facility will include team locker rooms, a concession stand, ticketing and public restrooms for the soccer and tennis programs. The project will be funded primarily by prior year Capital Projects Fund carryover. Ancon was the lowest bidder, with other bids ranging from $370,500 to $405,000. Director of Maintenance Greg Schroeder said the cost is more than was expected due to infrastructure improvements.
Schroeder then recommended Morris & Sons Roofing be awarded the Warsaw Community High School roofing project for $313,400. The roof areas at the Career Center and pool will be addressed. While six companies were interested, Schroeder said only two made a bid. The cost came in under expectation.
The third recommendation from Schroeder was that Performance Services' proposal for a guaranteed energy savings project at WCHS be accepted. The contract for the project will go before the board May 19. The project is structured to be revenue neutral. Energy cost savings are expected to offset future lease-purchase bond payments that will be made through the Capital Projects Fund.
Transportation Director Della Swain recommended the purchase of six new school buses for $587,416, which was approved. The purchase will include two 66-passenger conventional buses, two 66-passenger conventional buses with handicap lift and two 84-passenger transit style buses. The board accepted the recommendation.
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