During a Marshall County Board of Education meeting Tuesday, board members approved allowing the contractors and architects to move forward in designing the new building and estimating its cost.
“There are certain things we have to get prepared so we can present to the (School Building Authority) our commitment to the school and to the community,” Renzella said. “All we could do is fabricate a picture, but this allows us to pursue a literal rendering of what the school would look like. Now, people can have an idea of exactly what the school would look like.”
He noted the project’s architects have received input from teachers as to what features they would like to see. He said the architects will base their design on what the teachers feel is necessary.
On April 30, board members opted to proceed investigating the possibility of constructing a new high school, thus choosing to suspend plans to use $2.5 million of the school system’s $27. 9 million bond to renovate the current structure. Superintendent Fred Renzella said a recent study of the building done by the architects and engineers of McKinley and Associates of Wheeling shows those renovations will not be enough to correct several deficiencies.
The West Virginia School Building Authority is expected to award $16 million to the county to construct the school. The $2.5 million originally designated for Cameron High School also will go toward the construction.
However, the SBA still needs to review the project and the design option and cost estimate must be provided as part of a “needs application” the board must submit to the SBA. Renzella said by approving the design option and a cost estimate arrangement, the school system is one step closer to making the new school a reality. If the funding is approved, the new Cameron High School would be open for the 2011-12 school year, Renzella said.
While Renzella said the estimated cost of the project is $20 million to $22 million. However, he noted contractors with Project and Construction Services Inc. must still conduct an official cost estimate and constructability review.
He said the cost estimate is expected to be completed in the next few months, and that, along with the needs application and other required information will then be passed on to the SBA for review.
A decision from the SBA on whether they will provide the $16 million for the project is expected next year.
Fact Box
The next Marshall County Board of Education meeting is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. June 24 at the Board of Education offices, Fourth Street, Moundsville.