Thursday, February 14th, 2008

Construction could save $1.5 million

By Janie Southard
ST. MARYS - It's possible the $55 million new school construction project will be ready for classes a year earlier than expected, which could save the district about $1.5 million. Completion is being targeted toward the start of the 2010-11 school year.
"But, there are about a thousand decisions along the way that could cause us to move (the completion date) back to school start of 2011," Construction Manager Bob Sewell of Gilbane Building Company, Columbus, told school board members at a meeting Wednesday night.
It's both big and small things that have impact on dates, for instance, completion of the building design as well as material availability and about 1,500 other activities scheduled that could set us back, Sewell said.
Board members on Wednesday took the first step toward the project by purchasing 73.64 acres from Paul Fortman and 0.73 acres from Walter and Ann Vogel for the new school.
The Vogel property adjoins the Fortman property and forms the triangle tip of the acreage at the corner of state Route 66 and Shipman Road.
Construction of the 6-12 building is scheduled to begin in February 2009 and be ready for academic move-in at the beginning of the 2010-11 school year, if everything moves along as planned. The renovations to East and West schools and the Dennings building also would be completed by the 2010 school year.
A public information meeting for the sale of the district's school facilities construction bonds is scheduled for Feb. 27 at 7 p.m. in the high school library. The sale, conducted by Wachovia Securities and the law firm of Bricker & Eckler, will raise $25.75 million as approved by voters last November.
Bonds will be sold with maturities from 1 to 28 years in minimum denominations of $5,000.
The board also approved directing interest earned on the bond proceeds to the district's building fund for Locally Funded Initiatives (LFIs) associated with the new construction/renovations. (LFIs are items that are either upgrades of the basic plan or additional items not in the plan and not fundable by the state. Examples are terrazzo flooring, athletic stadiums, extra classrooms, etc.)
The board unanimously approved employing Lawhon and Associates of Westerville as the district's maintenance plan adviser, as mandated by the Ohio School Facilities Commission. The group will take responsibility for various "hands-on after the fact" areas making sure personnel are trained to operate the new equipment, changing filters, for example.
The charge for this service is 10 cents per square foot (205,000 square feet in the St. Marys construction project), which is shared with the state at a 62/39 percent split.
Additional online stories on this date
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Several area senior citizens have said no to the proverbial rocking chair in their golden years and instead are volunteering their time to help out their fellow man. [More]
Subscriber and paid stories on this date
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During the regular school board
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Friday, 6:30 p.m. Panther Gymnasium
Last Game: Coldwater saw a three-game win streak snapped in losing 62-49 to Wapakoneta. ... Parkway could not hold an early lead, allowing St. Marys to snap its long losing streak with a 65-59 win, ending Parkway's win streak.
Friday, 6:30 p.m. The Hangar
Last Game: The Redskins' second-half woes continue, losing their third straight game and fifth out the last six in a 71-68 decision against Versailles. ... The Flyers rebounded from Friday's loss to New Knoxville with a 55-39 win over Russia, then beating Ottoville on Monday 48-35.
Friday, 6:30 p.m. Elida Fieldhouse
Last Game: The Roughriders snapped a 10-game losing streak in downing Parkway 65-59 at McBroom. ... The Bulldogs picked up a two-game winning streak over the weekend with wins over Wapakoneta and Spencerville, beating the Bearcats 51-42 at the Elida Fieldhouse.
Friday, 6:30 p.m. Cardinal Gymnasium
Last Game: Minster suffered a cold spell in falling by 26 to state-ranked Anna on Saturday. ... New Bremen continues to play strong outside the MAC after beating Fort Loramie 50-46 to finish 9-2 in non-conference play.
Friday, 6:30 p.m. Arnzen Gymasium
Last Game: The Rangers clinched their second straight MAC title with a 73-62 win over Marion Local at the Barn. ... St. John's saw a two-game win streak snapped by Bath, 58-53.
Friday, 6:30 p.m. Defiance High School
Last Game: Celina's three-game win streak was replaced with a two-game losing skid in losing to LCC on Saturday and Ottawa-Glandorf on Sunday. ... Defiance extended its win streak to six games with a 52-41 win against Rossford on Saturday.