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BOE approves new bid for ECHS work
By Peggy Blackburn - Managing Editor
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The Elmore County Board of Education will have to pay more than anticipated for conversions and renovations at Elmore County High School. During Monday night’s regular meeting board members approved withdrawal of the original low bid because of a calculation error that was certified to the project architect.
Previously, J.A. Lett Construction Company’s low bid of $175,200 was accepted. The board voted Monday to approve the second-lowest bid totaling $202,822 for conversion of the school’s old band room to a technology classroom and renovations to the “J” building on the ECHS campus. MTS Construction Inc. submitted that bid.
“It happens occasionally - not often, but sometimes,” said Bruce Christian, who oversees the board’s ongoing construction projects.
Christian also provided updates on the progress of other current projects, including:
Stanhope Elmore -
• Baseball field and parking lot - most items finished, locker room scheduled for March completion.
• New gymnasium - site work to be completed in late February or early March. Official groundbreaking will be Feb. 21.
• Football stadium expansion - construction set for March through June.
• Library addition - preliminary design continuing.
Coosada Elementary -
• Bus maintenance shed - design continuing; site work in February and March.
Airport Road Intermediate n
• Entrance road - at punch list stage.
• Building - site work ongoing; slabs to be poured in March. Groundbreaking set for Feb. 21.
Holtville High -
• Storage annex - at punch list stage.
• Auditorium conversion to media center and former library renovated to classrooms completed.
• New football field lighting - bids to be opened in March.
• Maintenance of fire alarm system - starting in February.
Holtville Middle -
• New classrooms - 99 percent completed.
Wetumpka Elementary -
• Security and space - feasibility study ongoing.
Wetumpka Intermediate
• Conversion to Wetumpka Middle - work to begin in February. Groundbreaking set for March 3.
Wetumpka High
• New gymnasium - pending board approval of preliminary design.
Redland School -
• Site work - 95 percent completed. Building construction to begin in March.
Elmore County High n
• Renovate old bandroom to technology classroom - bid accepted.
• New football field lighting - bids to be accepted in March.
Eclectic Elementary -
• Pavilion - March or April.
• Parking lot addition - preliminary study under way.
Curriculum building
• Construction to be completed in March.
The meeting was held at Wetumpka High School and Cindy Veazey, assistant principal, presented information on the school’s goals and accomplishments to the board.
Veazey said the school is offering more advanced classes and has made significant gains in technology use and instruction.
She pointed out that the school’s computer network is now completely wireless; and talked about the addition of tablet PCs and other innovative technology that is currently being utilized by the school’s teachers and students.
Susan Gill, county arts specialist, updated the gathering on the accomplishments of school and county arts programs, including:
• Holtville High students assisted with hanging the state art show, and were awarded a certificate of appreciation and were recognized at the winners’ luncheon. In addition, the Alabama Institute for Education presented a scholarship worth more than $1,000 for a team from Elmore County to attend arts training.
• The system’s “Play It Forward” program that solicits donation of band instruments was featured in the March issue of “AEA Journal.” Gill said the Baldwin County system has expressed interest in emulating the program.
• Gill has also been interviewed for an article in the upcoming State Education Department’s newsletter concerning both the “Play It Forward” program and the county’s arts collaboration project.
• In addition, Huntingdon College is offering a half-tuition incentive to Elmore County students.
“We are very proud,” said Gill. “A lot has gone on in less than a year.”
Board members also recognized the Stanhope Elmore JROTC program, which finished first in every category at a recent competition hosted by Lanier High School. The SEHS cadets outperformed 17 other school programs.
In addition, board members approved the 2008-09 school calendar and accepted a bid for a centralized library management system.
