Wednesday, December 22, 2004

The bids came in lower than expected, and the interest rates are favorable.

Those two factors made the Simpson County Board of Education’s decision easy. They voted unanimously last Thursday night to issue bonds that will launch a $10 million construction project that will include major renovations at the middle school and lesser ones at Simpson Elementary.

“In the words of our fiscal agent, we hit a grandslam,” said Superintendent Jim Flynn. “This thing fell right into place.

The School Board will spend about $7.5 to $8 million on renovations and additions at the F-S Middle School and Simpson Elementary. In addition, another $2.4 million derived from performance contracts through guaranteed savings on utilities is to be bonded by the local school district.

The lowest bids for both projects were accepted. The bid for the middle school project totaled $5.1 million – $500,000 less than anticipated. It was submitted by the Robert S. Biscal Co. of Brentwood, Tenn. The $1.21 million successful bid for the Simpson Elementary renovations was turned in by the Alliance Corp. of Glasgow.

The middle school project includes the addition of a kitchen/cafeteria, 10 new classrooms and a media center. The expansion of the cafeteria and administrative areas as well as a new heating and cooling system and roof are planned at Simpson Elementary. The HVAC system at Simpson Elementary and new lighting in the high school gym are among the projects that will be funded by the performance contracts.

Flynn said additional monies realized by the district through the lower than expected costs will be used to complete other priorities on the school’s facilities needs list, such as a high school roof and parent dropoff loop for the middle school.

Flynn said upgrades designed to save on utilities and thus free up more money for bonds will begin in January 2005. Construction at the F-S Middle School and Simpson Elementary is set to begin in March 2005 and take about one year to complete.

The improvement projects will make way for a reshuffling of the grades in the Simpson County School System. If everything goes as planned, by the 2006-07 school year, preschool will be at Franklin Elementary, grades 1-3 at Simpson Elementary, grades 4-5 at Lincoln Elementary, grades 6-8 at the F-S Middle School and grades 9-12 at the F-S High School.

Another $3.8 million in funding for interior and exterior renovations at Franklin Elementary are tied up in the state budget, which failed to pass the General Assembly. That money would not have to be paid back.

The Board of Education also passed on a 1 percent raise for all staff that will be effective in January and will be funded by the state. The School Board gave employees a 2 percent pay increase in the 2004-05 budget cycle.

Board members accepted an offer of assistance from the state School Facilities Construction Commission for $18,000 for technology needs. The district will match those funds, which will most likely be used to upgrade computers and related equipment at all schools, Flynn said.