Comprehensive Educational Facility Plan (CEFP)
steering committee met last Thursday at the Calhoun County board of
education office.
Prior to the meeting, superintendent of schools
Roger Propst said, “We need six acres of land (for a new Arnoldsburg
Elementary School), and if it was built close to where we are now, as
long as it wasn’t in the flood plain, it would minimize what we would
have to buy.”
Jerry Milliken, facility planner for Williamson
Shriver Architects, Inc., of Charleston, addressed the goals and
objectives.
Carla Taylor, director of school improvement, said
that the CEFP goals and objectives were submitted for review to the
School Building Authority (SBA).
Propst received notification from SBA on Mar. 4
that the plan had been accepted.
Taylor said that the committee has not been given a
deadline, but the subcommittee has met about the current plan.
Under the evaluation of the 2000-2010 CEFP, Frank
Tetrick, director of supportive services, said that 50% of the projects
were complete, including the greenhouse at Calhoun Middle/High School,
the bus garage, and renovations at Pleasant Hill School.
Major Improvement Plan/ Operations and Maintenance
in the next 10 years deals with prioritizing projects, such as
addressing the roof at CM/HS.
Milliken said, “Arnoldsburg Elementary School needs
more parking, road upgrades, separation of the bus loop and parental
drop-off, roof replacement, and exterior doors and frames to be
addressed.”
He also said that floor coverings and renovations
called patch and painting would cost $66,000.
Upgrading the interior doors, lighting, heating and
ventilation, electrical upgrades, some storage facilities for
administration, a multi-purpose room (gymnasium), kitchen and plumbing
upgrades, and new furnishings would cost an estimated $5,325,150,
including architectural, engineering, and contingency fees, according to
Milliken.
He explained that the SBA is a good source for
funding, but “once a school gets around to 65% of the cost of new
construction, the SBA is not really interested in funding renovations or
upgrades to facilities.”
“Once we look at the site, we have to identify what
part of the school is in the floodplain,” said Milliken. “We have looked
at estimated costs for a new facility, and the second month enrollment
was 215 students. You can allot 168 square feet per pupil, or
approximately 36,120 feet for new construction. The new cost for
elementary school construction is $8,235,360, which is about 65% of our
$5.3 million.”
CM/HS will eventually need a new roof, costing
about $1.4 million. Painting and touch-ups will cost about $490,000. The
heating and ventilation system, restroom upgrades, and lighting upgrades
will amount to $7.6 million.
Pleasant Hill School’s evaluation included sidewalk
and paving repair, and heating and ventilation. The need for a gymnasium
is also important. Estimated costs for these projects is $2 million. The
waste treatment plant’s upgrades are estimated at $250,000.
Milliken said, “All these items can be adjusted and
these are estimated costs.”
Tetrick said that $41,000 was allotted to the
facilities in 2007 and 2008 for exterior doors and security: “We should
receive more allotment in the near future.”
Propst said, “Arnoldsburg School is the centerpiece
of what we want to do. It is going to be a $9 million expenditure, (and)
a bond is the only way we are going to be able to get any matching
money; the only way to get the money to buy that land or any land,
whether (or not) it be another site.
“I just think that one is a good one because it is
right beside the other site, and all you have to do is extend the
utilities, but the idea with the bond will be the same tax rates that we
have now. We don’t ask for that bond till the other one is matured and
paid off, so they stop paying in June 2012.
“Hopefully, we have done our thing. We made a
proposal to the SBA, we have agreed to $1.5 (million) as our match, and
they have already said that we will build contingent upon passing this
bond. The plan would be for the bond not to be down for any amount of
time.
“Bottom line, we want to ask for the same amount of
money that you approved to do the work on a new school and improvements,
therefore, we just continue on. I am really excited, I think they are
going to pass this.”
“It’s going to take planning,” said Milliken. “This
is an exciting time for Calhoun County.”
Based on the planning and funding of a facility,
the SBA uses “Enrollment Projections” from WVU.
Members of the committee agreed with Milliken that
it is important to upgrade Pleasant Hill and Calhoun Middle/High School
as identified, and build a new school at Arnoldsburg.
There will be a public forum held in the CM/HS
auditorium on Tuesday, Mar. 30, at 6:30 p.m. After the forum, there will
be a CEFP committee meeting.
Propst also announced that Calhoun County students
will still have spring break from Apr. 5-9.