Construction, technology purchases also on agenda
The future of the gymnasium at the former Greene County middle school will be determined in the next couple of months, but it appears the building’s days are numbered.
Greene County school superintendent Tim Christensen reported to the board at its Aug. 19 meeting that Jeramie Hinote is no longer interested in acquiring the gym for his Play 4 Him Academy. Nate Adams is the other person interested in the property, but his interest is in seeing it torn down.
Adams, of Carroll, wants to turn the middle school into 25 apartments. His plan is part of the Three-Block Plan, a plan being promoted by Greene County Development Corporation for the area that includes Greene County Community Center, the middle school and gym, and Greene County Early Learning Center.
Adams presented his plan at the school board’s July meeting. Hinote also spoke that evening, but without the detail Adams provided.
Adams’ plan requires separating the 1952 gym from the 1921 3-story building. Without the gym, the project could qualify for the state’s historic tax credits. Adams also plans for upscale apartments with unobstructed views on that end of the building.
The gym and the 3-story building share a heating system. An alternative to razing the gym would be take out the connecting hallway and maintaining it as a separate building. Putting in a new HVAC system and other needed improvements to the gym could cost as much as $1 million, according to Christensen. He estimates the cost of razing the gym at $150,000.
Christensen first suggested holding a public hearing in September, presumably on the transfer of property. However, board members asked for assurance that Adams will go forward with his plan for the school building, and they asked for more information about whether the Three-Block Plan will be done.
Adams will be asked to talk with the board again in September and more questions about the Three Block Plan will be asked of GCDC and the city of Jefferson. A public hearing may be scheduled for October.
The board approved a change order for the new high school and career academy adding $189,387 to the cost of the project. The cost of some changes can be recovered from the contractor, as they’re the result of contractor errors. The new contract sum after the change order is $31,155,283, which is $68,000 less than the original contractor sum.
Board member John McConnell, who is a contractor himself, pointed out that there has been less than 1 percent of the total contract in change orders. He said it’s more typical to see 8 percent in change orders.
The board also approved a change order of $47,467 for repurposing the former high school as a middle school. The larger amounts in the change order are $12,173 for new doors from the choir room and $8,973 for changes in lighting in the mechanical room.
The price tag on that project is now $4,860,760; the original contract sum was $4,099,000.
The board tabled approving the certificate of substantial completion for the high school/career academy at the suggestion of the building committee. The state inspector has given clearance for use/occupancy for the two-story classroom wing and the career academy, but as of the meeting date, there were still a few items owner’s rep Sam Harding wanted to sure were correct. Warranties go into effect on the date the certificate is approved.
The board approved the purchase of 100 Chromebook tablets, licenses and cases at a cost of $24,000. The tablets will be used in grades K-1. The purchase brings the district to 1:1 student access to technology. The district also approved purchase of additional wifi hotspots.
The technology purchases will be paid for out of the $50,000 received as Government Emergency Educational Relief funding.
Christensen explained the district’s state-mandated plan for any future pandemic-related building closure includes using Greene County Community Center and the community centers in Scranton, Grand Junction and Rippey for students who do not have internet access at home. Associates would be in each of those locations to monitor and assist students. Students who didn’t have a way to get to one of those places would have a school-owned wifi hotspot at home. District technology director Brent Gerzema said the hotspots would be dedicated for only the school-owned Chromebooks or tablets.
In another matter related to the pandemic, Christensen reported students in the construction program will not build a house this school year, but instead will work on smaller projects like the building out of the wrestling room at the middle school and the greenhouse at the career academy.
In other business the board:
- Approved the program agreement with the North Central Consortium School (special education services)
- Approved an agreement with Integrated Behavioral Health Services for tele-mental health services
- Approved a football team fundraiser
- Approved the second reading of BP 904.2- Advertising and Promotions
- Reviewed Board Policy 503.1-503.5 – Student Conduct; no changes were made
- Approved an interfund loan from the general fund to the management fund (until fall property tax revenue is received); and
- Approved releasing middle school science teacher Grant Hayward from his contract due to family health issues.
