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After Warsaw Schools Superintendent Dr. Robert Haworth provided more information about the five architectural firms, the school board approved his recommendation of Kovert Hawkins, of Jeffersonville.
Haworth's recommendation was to employ the services of Kovert Hawkins for no more than $1,000 per building. They were recommended "to help the corporation present the need for a building project as it relates to our current facilities and to assist the corporation in developing the facilities vision for our school system."
Haworth previously worked with Kovert Hawkins at Springs Valley School Corp., French Lick, when he was superintendent there.
Currently, there is no scope or plans for a project. 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, causing overcrowding. The school board has since said Claypool will be reopened, but also are considering renovating and expanding Claypool and building at least one new elementary school. But no decision has been voted on.
The five architects firms considered included Moake Park, Scearce Rudisel/Schmidt Associates, MSKTD, Odle McGuire & Shook and Kovert Hawkins. The firms were interviewed July 19-20. On Aug. 10, the board met to discuss the results of those interviews, during which time more questions were developed. There were nine questions, with some questions including subquestions. For example, one question asked the firms to describe how they would determine a contingency fee for a project. The subquestion asked for a contingency fee estimate for a renovation/classroom addition project for a $10 million project. Another subquestion asked for a contingency fee estimate for a $20 million new stand-alone four-section elementary building.
Haworth also provided the possible project tax impacts for a term of 20 years at an interest rate of 4.75 percent, if a person's home was valued at $100,000, using an assessed valuation of the school corporation of approximately $1.7 billion. Bond amounts were projected from $2 million to $32 million since no cost or project is known at this time. Annual payments would run from an estimated $156,000 to $2.5 million. Based on the estimated figures, the tax rate impact could range anywhere from $0.009 to $0.145.
Other costs would include such items as bond counsel.
School board member Tammy Dalton said the problem for her with Kovert Hawkins, is the distance between them and Warsaw. She said she knows Kovert Hawkins assured Warsaw they will be here when needed, but it is still was a reservation for her.
Dan Robinson, school board vice president, asked Haworth how he came to his recommendation. Haworth said it was difficult because all five firms have good experience. Before coming to Warsaw, he said he used Kovert Hawkins at Springs Valley for a project and they were able to not divide the community over the project. Kovert Hawkins, he said, has a history of conservative projects that will be there for several years. Their buildings are completed under cost and on time. Haworth said he had a very successful relationship with them. He said he also was concerned about the distance, but believes that anytime Warsaw wants them, they will be there.
"We did have five strong firms," said Robinson. "A difficult, difficult choice."
Board member Cathy Folk made the motion to approve Haworth's recommendation of Kovert Hawkins, with Chuck Sauders seconding the motion. It was approved by six of the seven school board members. Deb Wiggins was absent.
Haworth told the Kovert Hawkins representatives at the meeting that he wants to begin immediately with public meetings to show the need of a project. He wants community meetings to be held at Jefferson, Madison, Claypool and Lincoln elementary schools. Those meetings will be scheduled and announced soon. Child care will be provided for the community meetings and information on that also will be provided later. Kovert Hawkins will conduct the meetings.
Haworth also wants Kovert Hawkins to have a booth at home football games, which they said they will after this Friday's home game.
Warsaw School Board members present at Monday's meeting included President Ron Yeiter, Robinson, Dalton, Folk, Sauders and Secretary Gene England.
