School Board Approves Separate Buildings For LP Schools

After considering various options for new classrooms at the middle school and high school in Lake Placid, the School Board of Highlands County decided to construct two single-story buildings - one at each school.

The board originally considered constructing a two-story building at the high school and another two-story building at the middle school, with estimated total costs of $5.5 million and $5.2 million, respectively.

The slumping economy and declining enrollment prompted the board to look for cost savings including constructing one building that could be used by both schools.

But, having middle and high school students in the same building could compromise student safety, the principals and some school board members said.

Reducing the size from the original proposal of 26,000 square feet for the high school and 20,000 square feet for the middle school was also considered.

"The basic savings to any construction project has to do with the square footage; that's why we are now down to just under 13,000 for the middle school and just under 20,000 for the high school," Facilities Director Dave Burnham said Tuesday.

Plans call for the classroom construction to be completed in time for the start of 2010-11 school year.

Phil Wegman, of Furr & Wegman Architects, told the board it should try to make a decision by Jan. 1. That would allow adequate time for his firm to design the buildings so the general contractor could bid the project and provide the board with an estimated cost on June 9.

School Board Member J. Ned Hancock was the only school board member who voted against the plan.

"I just don't think we truly examined the best way to provide a service to our students in the most economical way for our taxpayers," he said after the meeting. "I think we go about things in our district anymore to work to what certain people want as opposed to what is in the best interest of taxpayers.

Superintendent Wally Cox said with the smaller single-story buildings, the district could save between $2 million and $2.5 million.

Lake Placid Middle School Principal Derrel Bryan told the board the new building would eliminate the need for portable classrooms at his school.

Assistant Superintendent of Business/Operations Mike Averyt said with 15 portables at the high school, the new 12-classroom building would not replace all the portables.

Burnham said groundbreaking on the projects could be in July or August.