Trigg County school board members awarded nearly $17-million in bids for three renovation projects during a special called meeting Thursday evening.
The board was joined by Dwight Salsbury from Ross, Sinclaire & Associates, LLC and Andrew Owens an architect from Sherman Carter Barnhart to discuss the details of the project for the elementary school renovation, the bids that were submitted, and the funding that is available to the district. Also on hand, were primary school principal Lindsey Kinslow and intermediate principal Brian Futrell to share what their teachers wanted to see in the upcoming renovation.
School board members unanimously approved a bid for the elementary school renovation project of $13,925,000 from A&K Construction out of Paducah, with Gayle Rufli absent from the meeting. The total project cost, barring any changes, will be nearly $16.3-million after paying architectural and other fees that are associated with the project.
Trigg County Schools Operations Director Matt Ladd tells the News Edge the elementary school renovation will be a large project.
The new gymnasium will be able to hold up to 500 people for school events, something the current one can not do. Ladd adds the current gymnasium will be turned into two-levels of additional classroom space that is much needed for the elementary school.
Interim Superintendent Tim McGinnis says he was anxious heading into the board meeting Thursday night.
He notes he works with a great team, including Finance Officer Holly Greene who has helped to make sure the district has the correct funding for the project.
McGinnis adds he has worked with several building projects in the past and says this one is very comprehensive.
In other board action, members approved to award a bid submitted by the Princeton Lumber Company, LLC for $490,100 for the middle and high school vestibule projects.
Ladd says he is excited to start moving forward with those two projects.
As we have previously reported, Senate Bill 1, which was signed by Governor Matt Bevin in March of this year mandates schools to restrict the access to each building by July 1, 2022. The law was enacted following the fatal shooting of two students at Marshall County High School on January 23, 2018. The project was tabled in July to make sure the district had adequate funding for the elementary school renovation.
The total cost of the entire vestibule installations and the moving of the middle school office to the north end of the building will cost over $585,000 after architectural and other fees.
McGinnis adds he feels good about the vestibule projects.
The vestibule projects will be paid for with cash the district currently has on hand, with the elementary school renovation project to be paid for by the sale of bonds and other funding the district receives marked for renovations and building repairs and will take around 20 years to completely pay off.
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