Here’s how MCSD plans to spend $1.9 million to upgrade these five Columbus schools
Renovating a school. Expanding weight rooms. Constructing a new parking lot.
During its monthly meeting Monday night, the Muscogee County School District’s board unanimously approved contracts recommended by superintendent David Lewis to bring these projects a step closer to completion:
Expansion of weight rooms at Carver, Columbus and Northside high schools
The board awarded a $1,070,000 contract to Thayer-Bray Construction of Phenix City to expand the weight rooms at Carver, Columbus and Northside high schools.
Thayer-Bray was the low bidder among two companies, according to the bid sheet attached to the board’s agenda. The other was Principle Construction of LaGrange ($1,121,380).
The winning bid exceeds the budgeted amount of $700,000 for construction, so the board’s vote also authorized increasing the budget for the project, designed by Neal Kendust & Murray of Columbus. The revised budget now totals $1,368,000 and comprises:
- $1,070,000 construction
- $115,000 furniture, fixtures and equipment
- $100,000 contingency
- $78,000 architecture and engineering
- $5,000 surveying and environmental testing.
Funding will come from revenue generated by the Education Special Local Option Sales Tax, which Columbus voters renewed in June 2020 to pay for 22 projects totaling $189 million. The 1% tax lasts for five years or until the approved amount is collected.
Renovation of Veterans Memorial Middle School
The board awarded a $635,532 contract to Ben B. Gordy Construction of Columbus to renovate Veterans Memorial Middle School, including the expansion of the band room and the upgrade of the school’s safety and security.
Gordy was the low bidder among three companies, according to the bid sheet attached to the board’s agenda. The other two were River City Contracting of Fortson ($755,000) and Thayer-Bray Construction of Phenix City ($672,909).
Barnes Gibson Partners of Columbus is the project’s architect. The $1,563,000 budget comprises:
- $400,000 construction
- $400,000 renovation
- $200,000 furniture, fixtures and equipment
- $390,000 technology improvements
- $60,000 architecture and engineering
- $56,000 contingency
- $50,000 safety and security upgrade to the main hall entry and access control
- $7,000 surveying and environmental testing.
Funding will come from the ESPLOST.
New parking lot at Jordan Vocational High School
The board awarded a $180,033 contract to Warr Grading of Smiths Station to construct a handicap-accessible parking lot and sidewalk for Jordan Vocational High School’s baseball field.
Warr Grading is the only company that submitted a bid, according to the document attached to the board’s agenda. The winning bid exceeded the project’s budgeted amount for construction of $100,000, so the board’s vote also authorized increasing the budget for the project, designed by French & Associates of Columbus. The revised budget of $191,533 comprises:
- $180,033 construction
- $6,000 architecture and engineering
- $3,000 surveying and environmental testing
- $2,500 contingency.
Funding will come from MCSD’s capital fund.
