PCSS Designing New School To Fit Budget

Putnam County Schools working to fit the system’s new school project into the $44 million bond budget.

Director of Schools Corby King said he met with Upland Design Group last week with the goal to cut some 10,000 square feet from the building.

“It has a lot of square footage in the original design,” King said. “To make sure we stay in that original budget, we’ve got to cut some of that out. So, we’re looking at what classrooms to make sure we got the number that we need for the right programs we need.”

King said a fee payment schedule also came from the meeting. According to the plan, the new school is projected go out to bid in May 2022 with an estimated April 2024 completion date.

“Really right now, we are looking at all the design fees that go into the project,” King said. “Then, when you get into construction, you’ll see the larger draws coming out of the bond issue.”

The school system will start drawing from the bond in September, according payment plan. King said the meeting with the architect is the beginning of more discussions as the design process of the Lee Seminary Road school continues.

“We’ll start bringing in some teachers and other groups and people in to make sure we have what we need and get the layout correct,” King said.

King said furnishing the building and other expenditures are not included in the initial plans. King said by cutting down on the square footage, the extra spending can fit into the bond.

“We have to provide AV technology, and we want to do that within that $44 million,” King said. “So again, we are looking at what we can save in the building project, what can we cut from the building project to make sure we can actually complete it and have a usable space.”