Renovation projects planned, but timeline is hazy

“In the fall we’ll probably be bidding it,” said assistant superintendent Bonnie Knight regarding the Comer project. “(Construction of) a whole new school is generally 18-24 months. So, I’d say no more than 18 months … It’s a much simpler project than the high school.”

Superintendent Dr. Allen McCannon said it’s too early to give a timeline on the MCHS construction.

“There are too many variables right now,” said McCannon. “There’s no blueprint yet. Everything we’ve talked about at the high school is just concepts.”

The superintendent said the initial plans have been scaled back.

“We were looking at maybe having something that tied in the buildings,” said McCannon. “But we’re probably going to build something adjacent, maybe even a three-story building, adjacent to the (high school) gym, right there in the teacher parking lot. We’re just in concepts right now. A construction manager has not been chosen. There are no official plans yet.”

McCannon said Comer will proceed much quicker.

“We’re a little bit further along with Comer,” said McCannon. “We’ll put a new media center and a new classroom, take the old media center and make it into two classrooms. It’s got two options. We really want to add something aesthetically while we do it. We’re getting close to ready to rock and roll.”

The schools will need to sell bonds to secure cash for the construction, which will be paid back with sales tax funds over coming years. The system is also expecting a construction allotment for the projects from either the state or federal government.

How much will be provided is still unclear. And whether the funds are “state” or “federal” is also up in the air.

“We’re looking at possibly getting federal dollars instead of state dollars,” said McCannon. “You wonder what’s the big deal in that? Well, it’s a big deal.”

School leaders say that federally funded projects must comply with Davis Bacon rules, which determine wage rates to be paid on federally funded or assisted construction projects.

“Union wages,” Knight said.

“It doesn’t hurt you that bad in Atlanta,” added McCannon.

“Because they’re already paying close to that an hour,” said Knight.

McCannon said the bottom-line construction costs will vary significantly based on whether the schools get state or federal money.

“Out here where things are a little more competitive and slower, we were able to bring the MCMS cost down, but we won’t be able to drop that cost down as much due to the red tape (if it’s federal money),” said McCannon. “They say you’ll increase your construction costs in this part of the state by 20 percent (with federal restrictions in place).”

Knight said the state will determine how the Madison County project is funded in mid August.

The assistant superintendent said the federal stipulations will also limit the use of the buildings.

“That’s another thing,” said Knight. “You can’t change that building or do anything else with the building that’s built with federal funds for 15 years. So you need to use that on a building you’re not going to have major renovations on for a while.”