Morgan County Board of Education received a timeline for the construction phase of the proposed new Priceville High School at its regular monthly meeting Thursday night.  Leon Barkan, vice president of Volkert Inc., used a video screen to present data pertaining to the main school building, budget and construction timeline.

The proposed main school building will be designed to accommodate 600 students and will have built-in infrastructure to accommodate as many as 900. The 119,000 sq. ft. main building will have four classrooms for each of four core subjects, four labs, band, room, media center, modern kitchen with two serving lines and a 300-seat dining area, choral, art, broadcast and driver’s ed classrooms, two gymnasiums and broadcast rooms, a competition and two gyms with locker rooms, weight room, dressing

rooms and concessions area.

A15,000 sq. ft. field house to accommodate all sports is also proposed. It would contain locker rooms, coaches’ offices, officials room and conference room.

A 10,000 sq. ft. safe room would also be required.

The estimated cost of the main building was listed at $1.45 per sq. ft or 21.9 million. The field house was estimated at $2.5 million, bringing the total cost to $24.5 million.

The project is being funded by a $26.5 million bond issue.

“We anticipate your input in the planning phase and we welcome it,” Barkan told the board. “It’s important for you to know up front what you’re getting for your money and we’ll work with you anyway we can to hold the cost down.”

“We want to stay within our budget,” Superintendent Bill Hopkins said.” Nothing would please us more that to finish the job $1 million under budget.”

The projected construction start date is next January with 14 months being allowed for construction. The school should be ready for occupancy in the fall of 2015.

“This is the first of about 20 monthly updates you will received as the project moves forward, said Barkan stated.

The board acted on agenda matters as follows:

Accepted a bid of $23,787 from Eddie Preuitt Ford of Hartselle for a 2013 Ford Explorer for the superintendent’s use. The state bid price for the vehicle is $23,470.

•Accepted a low bid of $114,700 from Stadium Pros for additions and subtractions to existing bleacher seating to bring bleachers countywide up to ADA compliance.

•Approved an out-of-state field trip request from Sparkman School to allow 100 fifth through eighth grade students to visit the Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga, Tenn. on Mar. 7, 2013.

•Approved an out-of-state field trip request from Danville High School to allow 54 students (football team) to attend the New Orleans Bowl in New Orleans, La. on Dec. 22, 2012.

•Approved an increase in pay for substitute school bus drivers from $40 to $50 per day, effective Jan. 14, 2013.

•Approved an increase in the hourly rate of play for the bus driver trainer from $8 to $10, effective Jan. 14, 2013,

•Approved Certificates of Affirmation of school board member forms as signed by the current Morgan County Board of Education: Jimmy Dobbs, Paul Holmes, Billy Rhodes, Mike Tarpley, Tom Earwood, Jeff McLemore and Carolyn Wallace.

•Approved a special education transportation contract with a Morgan County Schools parent to transport an eligible student from home to Priceville Elementary School and back each day the student attends school. The parent will be reimbursed at the federal rate per mile calculated the shortest Map Quest distance.

•Approved the lease of a copier from RJY Chattanooga for the use of the Learning Center, effective Dec. 12, 2012, for 36 months.

•Approved a contract with Volkert Inc. to serve as construction manager for the New Priceville High School project.

•Amended a board policy to permit school personnel to be paid on the last contract day prior to the Christmas holiday.

•Approved amended board policies GAE, employee gifts; JBA, compulsory attendance and entrance age; and JLA, gifts to staff members.

Personnel items recommended by Superintendent Hopkins and approved by the board are listed as follows:

•Approved an employee supplemental contract with Joe Bailey as assistant basketball coach at Danville High School, effective for the 2012-2013 school year.

•Approved the employment of Daniel Hoffman as end user computer technician/trainer at the central office, effective Nov. 20, 2012. He is replacing Brandon Riggs who resigned.

•Accepted notice of retirement from Barry Dutton, agri-science teacher at West Morgan High School, effective Dec. 31, 2012.

•Approved an employee supplemental contract with Mark Brazelton as assistant boy’s soccer coach at West Morgan High School, effective for the 2012-2013 school year.

•Approved Brook Hudson as a teacher at Falkville Elementary School, effective Dec. 14, 2012. She is replacing Kelly Henson who retired.

•Approved Kellie Tanner as principal at Danville Middle School, effective Jan. 2, 2013. She will replace Gary Walker who is retiring.

•Approved Layne Dillard as director of programs at the central office, effective Jan. 2, 2013. She is replacing Anne Vest who retired.