Shiner school board signs off on $7 million school construction

Shiner school board signs off on $7 million school construction
Friday, January 13, 2006
Barry Halvorson, Victoria Advocate Reporter

VictoriaAdvocate.com Article | Shiner School Construction News | Construction Watch Home Page

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SHINER - Five members of the Shiner school board OK'd more than $7 million to build classrooms, labs and other facilities for grades pre-K through 12.

Wednesday's decision had two dissenters, but board President Denise Overton said after the meeting it was a relief to be in a position to move forward with construction.

Sterling Structures L.P. of Houston has guaranteed that construction will not exceed $7.353 million. Final acceptance is pending approval of the district's legal advisers.

"I think that once the people of this community see that first shovel of dirt turned over, they'll be behind the project and know that we are going to have the kind of school facilities our students deserve," Overton said.

Trustees Gloria Reindl and Michael Huser cast the opposing votes. Both expressed concerns about construction aspects of the project not included in the guaranteed price. While praising the efforts of the contractors and architect Jim Singleton to hold the costs down, Reindl said she was uncomfortable with what was not included.

"They are asking us to say 'let's go' when we don't have electric, water, sewer or Internet connections," she said. "I don't know how to tell anyone in good conscious to move ahead until someone shows me where the money for those is coming from."

Reindl said she is concerned about the fund balance in the district's audit report for the 2004-05 school year. She reminded the board the district has already committed $660,000 of its fund balance to make this year's debt payment on the lease-purchase agreement that funds the school.

Superintendent Trey Lawrence estimated the cost of extending the various utilities to the campus at $400,000 and said he is pursuing grants and other funding to cover those costs. He said the district's fund balance is $1.7 million. While confirming the district has committed to making the debt service payment out of that, the district has reserves of $550,000 to cover the recommended three-month operating cushion recommended by the Texas Education Agency and auditors have left $550,000 for other capital improvements.

"We don't necessarily want to use that money on the construction project," Lawrence said Thursday. "But it is available if necessary."

Trustee Maurice Wilkinson came away from the audit with a different perspective than Reindl.

"I think we used a good method to select the funding system and the auditors are telling us we have enough funds if we are fiscally responsible," she said. "I don't think the community will ever be in a better situation to build a new school."

Besides Wilkinson and Overton, Andrew Schacherl, Angie Pekar and Laura Kaspar approved the bid.

"If we back out now after all the time and money that have been invested, it would be a big mistake," Schacherl said. "The time to do something is right now."

Sterling representative Mike Gordy addressed the project, saying it would include pre-engineered metal buildings with concrete slabs. He said his firm was offering the district a guaranteed price at this time while reviewing some of the subcontractor bids.

Gordy said the price is $25,000 less than what had been advertised on the meeting agenda. He and architect Singleton hope to get the price down even further so that some things can be added back to the project.

Singleton said that most items removed from the project were not immediate needs and could be added without having to refit the building. They include various covered drop-off points, the use of ceramic tiles at various locations and classroom storage cabinets.

Singleton said the plan includes salvaging some materials from the existing school, including classroom shelves, cabinets and blackboards, to use immediately and replace as needed.

Barry Halvorson is a reporter for The Victoria Advocate.
Contact him at 361-798-3888, or by e-mail at hvilladv@vicad.com.

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