Massive school project on hold: Smaller renovation plans are under way
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The pro-jects, which will cost an estimated $500,000, will provide a new press box and a new home-side concession stand to the stadium and a complete renovation of the middle school auditorium, which one county commissioner described as “decrepit.”
A proposal put forth by Commissioner David Hill last month would have had both the commission and school board contribute, over a 20-year period, to a $14 million renovation project that would have funded the above projects, in addition to many others across the school system – including a new school at Centertown.
However, after consulting with the state accountant’s office, whose officials said they could not authorize funds past the current fiscal year, school board members said they could not in good faith accept the offer.
Nevertheless, both Hill and several school board members declared their intentions not to give up on the proposal. Hill further urged board members to support the county’s February sales tax increase referendum, as half of any collected increases would go to the schools, a “windfall” which could be used to fund renovations.
In the meantime, however, the school board favors beginning phase II of the renovation plan it developed earlier in this year. Phase I, the facelift Nunley Stadium received this summer complete with the repair of the stadium’s concrete bleachers and the addition of new handrails, was recently signed off on by the project architect.
Director of Schools Dr. Jerry Hale said architects have already begun specs of the new renovations. The designs could be completed some time next month. When they are, the architect selected will let all necessary bids, with construction beginning, hopefully, by January.