Vo/Ag Shop Plans Evolve
A new vocational/agriculture shop was estimated Jan. 26 at between $800,000 and $850,000 as part of a $3.1 million capital improvements project the GCISD board is considering. Don Gibson of DSA Construction Management and architect Bill Slavik presented drawings and preliminary cost estimates at a GCISD board meeting.
This estimate was considerably higher than the $335,000 estimated for the building in October 2004 and the $450,000 estimate from Young’s Buildings in November 2004.
The building, using the Slavik plans, would be just over 10,000 square feet (double the existing shop space) and cost between $80 and $85 per square foot.
Board member Tibby Niehues said the vo/ag building’s cost should be moderate, helping to keep the total cost of the school’s improvement package closer to $3 million, rather than $4 million.
Two Sites Under Consideration
Two sites are possible for the building, with the board’s preference apparently being the shop’s present location. The other possibility would be to purchase the land across the street and southwest of the administration building and build the shop there.
Cost estimates did not include any new equipment for the building, nor any purchase of land.
The vo/ag program has grown in the last few years, and now includes 35 individual students in grades 9 – 12, some of whom are taking more than one class. Courses are taught by Rusty Hollingsworth and include Ag Mechanics I, II and III (broad-based welding, plumbing and construction) Ag Power and Machinery (motors and tractor restoration) and Ag Construction I & II. Four of the classes may be taken for college credit. There are currently no woodworking classes.
More space for the vo/ag program was recommended by the citizens’ advisory committee, although it did not specify size or features. The committee, however, said the possibility of a future decrease in the size of the elective vo/ag program should be considered in any building plans.