School project bids higher than projected

By Staff
Clif Knight, Hartselle Enquirer
Bids received last week on proposed capital improvement projects at Hartselle High, Hartselle Junior High and Crestline Elementary School will be the topic of conversation at a rescheduled meeting of Hartselle School Board today at 6 p.m.
The bids were opened on April 28 and were originally scheduled for review at an adjourned board meeting at 7 p.m. the same day. That meeting was cancelled, however, due to conflicts in the schedules of some board members.
The bids are for lunchroom renovations at the high school and junior high school, resurfacing of the gym floor at the junior high and the conversion of some window unit air conditioning units at Crestline Elementary School.
Superintendent Dr. Mike Reed said the bids for the lunchroom renovations were well above projected costs and that the window of opportunity to do the work while school is closed for the summer is another concern issue.
"We working closely with the principals, lunchroom directors and the architect and will present all of the possible options for the board when it meets," he said.
In support of the capital improvement projects, the board agreed to enter into a 20-year loan agreement with the Alabama Pubic School and College Authority at its last meeting. The amount of the loan is $943,000. It will be repaid by a $70,000 annual pledge from the pubic foods fund.
The lunchroom projects are ranked one and two on the school board's five-year capital improvement plan, according to Ronnie Abercrombie, board chairman.
"The board will have the option of re-designating priorities and moving forward on the gym floor and air conditioning projects should the lunchroom bids be rejected," he said.