Anderson School District One Board updated on building program

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By David Meade
Anderson School District One is in the process of informing the community of a new $132 million building program that includes construction of two new middle schools and classroom additions, renovations and safety improvements throughout the District.
During their meeting Tuesday, Superintendent Robbie Binnicker updated the District One Board of Trustees on the status of the building program and a bond referendum scheduled for April 30.
Binnicker said District officials are meeting weekly with Harper Construction and Craig Gaulden Davis to “value engineer the two middle schools that are planned if the bond referendum passes. Current plans are on target to begin site work as soon as the referendum happens and “assumes a positive referendum vote.”
Binnicker said the current plan is to have the site work Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) presented to the District at the end of March and the construction Guaranteed Maximum Price to be presented at the end of April.
Once the District receives the guaranteed prices, “There won’t be any cost overruns,” he said.
Binnicker said the guarantees are an incentive for the construction to be on time and on budget.
Information on the proposed building program has been presented at 25 formal events and numerous other informal gatherings since January, according to Binnicker. Most of the schools have hosted meetings for parents and teachers to hear about the building program and what is being planned for their individual schools.
Binnicker said a recent meeting at Cedar Grove Elementary had approximately 250 people attend. “It was packed, It was great and there were great questions,” he said.
Three larger community meetings are scheduled prior to the referendum vote. The public is invited to attend.
The first will be March 7 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 at Palmetto Middle School, March14 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Powdersville Middle School and April 9 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Wren High.
Those who attend at Palmetto Middle and Wren High will have the opportunity to tour the aging Palmetto Middle and Wren Middle School buildings.
Information on the building program is posted on the District’s website and a building program website at www.anderson1buildingproject.com.
Information includes the District presentation, an informational video, information statistics, architectural drawings of the two new middle schools and a question and answer section.
Binnicker said information on the building program has been posted on social media, the district web site, blackboard messaging to parents and presented in other ways.
He said response “has been very positive.”