EL Schools may opt for move to former WOHI building
By MICHAEL D. McELWAIN (mmcelwain@reviewonline.com)Fact Box
School board opens bids
By MICHAEL D. McELWAIN (mmcelwain@reviewonline.com)
EAST LIVERPOOL - Bids were opened recently for one aspect of the East Liverpool City School District's construction project.
According to school board President Gary Bonnell, Midwest Telephone out of Girad was the low bidder in two areas of the technology bid package process.
The business placed a $1,386,240 bid for the technology cabling and the video, sound and security aspects of the LaCroft Elementary School and East Liverpool High School rebuilding projects.
The estimate for those two aspects of the technology bid was $1,512,000, according to Bonnell. The fact that the bid came under estimate was welcome news for the district.
However, there were no bids placed for the network electronic phones portion of the technology bid package, according to Bonnell.
"We will likely re-bid it in the next week or so" Bonnell said.
Still up for consideration is the furnishings bid package.
EAST LIVERPOOL - School officials are mulling over the options on where to house board offices once the Administration building in the city's East End is vacated.
One option, the lease and possibly the purchase of the former WOHI building was discussed Wednesday morning.
A&I Studio representative Scott Shepherd went over the staff relocation study with school board members and administrators.
Shepherd's company completed a survey of the existing building and drew up some preliminary blueprints to make sure the district's needs could be met.
More modifications would be necessary for the first floor and would be the location for the primary functions, according to Shepherd.
There were some drawbacks to the WOHI building mentioned including the lack of space for records retention and the handling of school board meetings.
"I don't see how you can have a board meeting there. There's just not enough space," Shepherd told those gathered.
The A&I report recommends that the first floor be ADA compliant and a room be available on that floor for meetings with anyone located on the first floor if an individual could not climb the stairs to the second floor. The building has no elevator.
Getting a fiber optic line to the building is also an issue and Shepherd said he is contacting the ITC company for the school system to determine the costs involved.
A new fire, smoke and security system will be required as well.
The same firm will conduct the same inspection process at Westgate School, another possible site for board offices. Westgate is due to be demolished in December of 2009 under the current school rebuilding plan.
Shepherd said cost estimates to relocate at both locations will likely be announced soon, giving board members an opportunity to make the ultimate decision.
As for the WOHI building, school board President Gary Bonnell said a three year lease-to-own arrangement is possible. The district would pay $1,800 per month in rent for up to three years. If the building is deemed suitable, $900 of the monthly payment would go toward the $197,000 purchase price.
"This is just one board member's opinion, but we could go with the WOHI building and let the dust settle (with the building project)," Bonnell said. "At least we would have a roof over our heads."
