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As early as June
2000, the School Board deliberated on needed renovations to
Northwestern Elementary School (subsequently renamed Claude
Thompson Elementary School). In April 2001, the School Board
approved the renovation of the school, including the conversion
to (1) accommodate kindergarten through fifth grade, and (2)
meet American Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements. In Fiscal
Year 2003, the project was approved by the Board of Supervisors
as part of the Fiscal Year 2004–2008 Capital Improvement Program
(CIP) in the amount of $3,144,000. The project was approved for
funding in two phases of $1,572,000 each for fiscal years 2004
and 2005. In November 2003, bonds for the first phase were
issued.
As the School Board
undertook the project, it contracted with the firm of Rodriguez,
Ripley, Maddux, Motley Architects to provide an estimated
project budget. In May 2004, the firm submitted an estimate of
$8,043,000, which significantly exceeded expectations. The high
cost of the project resulted from an escalation in costs, a more
realistic assessment of facility needs, and revisions in
instructional needs. In June 2004, the School Board reviewed
various options regarding the future of Claude Thompson
Elementary School. The School Board also provided the community
an opportunity to express its views by holding two community
forums.
Even as the extent
of the renovation was being reviewed, health and safety
concerns, specifically related to a failed water system,
required the School Board to close the school for the School
Year 2004-05 to initiate improvements. To temporarily
accommodate the Claude Thompson Elementary School students,
leased modular classrooms were added at Coleman Elementary
School at a cost of $465,000.
After review of the
options and consideration of the overwhelming public support, on
September 13, 2004, the School Board approved the renovation of
Claude Thompson Elementary School to provide kindergarten
through fifth grade instruction. To reduce the cost of the
project, the School Board reviewed and modified the concept
plan, decreasing the project costs to $6,794,000. However, this
cost still exceeds the approved budget by $3,650,000. On
October 25, 2004, the School Board approved the attached
resolution, requesting additional funding in the amount of
$3,650,000 to support the renovation of Claude Thompson
Elementary School.
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Financial Impacts Analysis:
Capital Improvement
Program (CIP) approved funding totals $3,144,000. Additional
funding requested in the CIP for Fiscal Year 2005 totals
$3,650,000. Debt service on the new request would not begin
before Fiscal Year 2006. Operating funds are required to cover
the $465,000 cost of the leased modular classrooms, and $559,065
for furniture and equipment.
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