NL School Board works to nail down building projects, budget

BY BRYCE KELLY

Mt. Pleasant News

NEW LONDON ? With an April bond election quickly approaching, the New London School Board held one of their last meetings with S.V.P.A. senior architect, Robert Ormsby, on Monday night to nail down some final details regarding several major construction projects the district hopes to carry out.

Among these projects, which Ormsby once again presented price estimates for, are a re-roofing project of the south portion of Clark Elementary; a remodel of the existing locker rooms to replace waste piping to the showers; a plumbing project to the existing high school concession stand; and an addition of a new track and field.

Rather unchanged from previous meetings were the specifications for the re-roofing and concession stand projects. According to Ormsby, re-roofing a portion of the elementary school would cost around $527,692, while the latter project totals in at around $57,340.

?Both those projects look to be fairly in order,? said Ormsby. ?We still need a bit more time to confirm the final estimate of the locker room project, but right now we are looking at about $41,066 for that.?

Perhaps the most discussed project was the track and field. With roughly $247,000 currently tucked away in a separate fund as a result of past fundraisers, the six-lane all-weather track is already paid for, which leaves a total cost of roughly $1,355,000 for the track and field project.

?We wanted to keep our total combined construction costs under two million (dollars), which we have, and I am pleased with that,? said New London superintendent Steve McAllister. ?And when we come back in January, that total number may be slightly lower (after we rework some things tonight), or at the very least, I hope it?s the same.?

With the board looking over Ormsby?s itemized construction improvements list for the track and field, they did decide to eliminate a scoreboard and concession furnishings from their needs, as the school district already has those items. However, the board did ask Ormsby to establish the cost of new goal posts and track hurdles, as well as the cost of replacing light bulbs on the field.

In addition, the board asked Ormsby to factor in the estimate of a built-in irrigation system for the natural grass field, which the board could discuss further at their next work session meeting should they choose to pursue it.

With Ormsby?s current specifications, the school district would be getting home/visitors grandstand bleachers with seating for 537 people, a 400 square foot press box, an 800 square foot concession/public restroom building with handicap accessible stalls made for each gender, a sound system, a timing system, a long jump runway with pits, as well as various new concrete, fencing and paving work.

?In talking with members of the community, and I know a lot of you have had similar talks with people as I have, I think there is support out there for a new track,? said McAllister, who acknowledged once again that unlike the other work projects, the track and field is not necessarily a need for the school. However he feels, as does the board, that the school and community would very much benefit from such a structure in New London.

For know, it?s up to the school board to do their part in educating the public on the school?s work projects in preparation for the April 5 bond election. Before that time, however, the school board will have to make their final construction decisions during their next scheduled work session on Jan. 18.