Jackson Board Approve $3.3 Million CTE Building

The Jackson County Board of Education approved a bid Tuesday night for some $3.3 million to build the new high school CTE building.

Director of Schools Jason Hardy said the 12,000 square foot project received five bids. Board Member Ron Eldridge said he was glad to see multiple bids in the same ballpark of each other.

“When you sent the package out I was blown away at how close all the bids were,” Eldridge said. “They are within 15 percent of each other. That is just unheard of.”

The contract gives King’s Construction 360 days to complete the project. Hardy said he is hopeful the contractor will be able to break ground on the project within the next couple of weeks.

“We will have a timeline exactly of kind of everything that is going to happen here in a week or two,” Hardy said. “If the weather is good we will be starting here in December so you know it kind of depends upon the weather, but everything is in motion. We hope to break ground and we’ve already had some things that are in the works and hopefully, we will get started and the weather cooperates and we can get rolling as quick as a few weeks.”

Maintenance Lead Josh Morgan said King’s Construction has told him that it would be a few months before the building would start to take shape.

“Since he’s got the approval now when he orders the building it will be around 14-16 weeks is what they are telling him before he actually gets the building,” Morgan said. “But that gives him time to do all his groundwork and pour concrete and work on a parking lot and all that. That way they will have all that ready for when the building comes and then he could go straight to work.”

Hardy said he believes the contractor will be able to complete the project smoothly and quickly. Hardy said a realistic goal for the building to be finished by is January 2026.

Hardy said the school system will cover a majority of the cost using the ISM grant and the rest will be covered by the schools fund. Hardy said the school system has been saving money for several years anticipating this project.

In other business, the board approved seeking quotes for two vehicles to transport CTE and work-based learning students. Hardy said he is looking at purchasing a truck and a suburban-type vehicle. Hardy said he hopes to obtain both vehicles for about $50,000 per vehicle.

The board honored Hardy with a certificate thanking him for his service as director as November 14th was School Superintendent Day.