Board Explores More Building Options
At a special meeting at noon on Nov. 1, the GCISD School Board looked at two bids for the proposed new vocational arts building, one from Young’s Building of Midland for $450,000 and the other, not seriously considered, was from Johnson Building Construction for $635,000. The bids were done on the basis of scale drawings, but not architectural plans.
According to current plans, the 110 x 125-foot building being considered would rest on a four-inch slab, and would be built largely of metal, with 20-foot walls, except for classroom space, which would be of cinder block with 12-foot walls. Upper level storage and central air conditioning/ heating are included in the bids.
Superintendent Steve Long suggested that the existing bus barn might be remodeled as the vocational shop. He said the present ag/voc shop could then be used for bus and other maintenance, and, if necessary, “carport-type” shelter built for bus storage. The proposed new building is approximately 13,000 square feet; the bus barn is approximately 12,000 feet.
Board member Karla Hoelscher was joined by board member Tibby Niehues in questioning the size and expense of the building. They asked whether the plans could be cut back, both in size and in “extras” to save money and board member Diane Havlak asked whether the board should get bids on remodeling the bus barn. But board member Carl Hoelscher insisted cutting back on size wouldn’t save “that much,” and that the existing bus barn was not built to support the hoist needed. The board also discussed the possibility of adding to the existing ag building.
The board decided to advertise for more bids on a smaller building, and to get bids on updating the bus barn for vocational use.
The board committee of Carl Hoelscher, Doug Schaefer and Andy Wheeler, which was asked to determine if the property just southeast of the high school entrance was large enough for the new building, has decided that the area is not large enough. So the board is looking for alternative sites.
A six-minute closed session was held to discuss possible land purchase. No details were available.