Price tag will top $10M, final decisions expected soon
After more than a year of talking about potential designs for major renovations at Andalusia High School, working with a professional estimator and two bid processes, members of the city board of education finally got some firm numbers this week.
In October, the system received no bids for the combined projects, and since then, Superintendent Ted Watson and architect Chuck Jones have been interviewing contractors and negotiating prices. Of the four contractors invited to participate, Jones said, three showed.
Jones and Watson said either of the three could have done the work, but they recommended that the board hire locally-based Wyatt Sasser Construction.
“We asked for a dollar amount of the impact on the local economy,” Watson said. “That is about $5.8 million.”
Based on current negotiations, Jones said, Wyatt Sasser is willing to contract to do the base project for $9.39 million. There are 11 alternatives to the base bid – some of which are truly alternatives, others of which are being bid separately to save money – which would bring the total cost of the project to $12.24 million.
Among the extras the board will still have to decide is whether to move the field 30 feet closer to the bleachers on the home side, and whether or not to install synthetic turf.
If the project is to be completed in 2018, it is important to get started in January, Jones said, so that the stadium will be ready for football games in September. Jones encouraged board members to approve the base bid and consider the alternatives as possible change orders.
“We’ve put everything in there we could think of, and $12 million is the most it could ever be,” Jones said.
But board members needed more assurances about costs, and the possibility that unforeseen issues could drive those costs up.
In an almost-three-hour meeting, the board agreed to use Wyatt Sasser as the contractor, but wants more numbers on funding sources and other expected expenses over the next few years before giving the full go-ahead for the project. Read More>
If you’re looking for a Christmas gift that is unique and lasts a long time, look no farther than Andalusia High School.
The Public Educational Building Authority is currently selling the chairs for Andalusia High School’s auditorium renovation. For $350, a chair will be placed in the auditorium in honor or memory of teachers, parents, children, friends, classes or other causes. To date, $18,065 has been contributed.
Members of the Public Educational Building Authority are Charles Eldridge, Paul Sue Duebelt and Steve Posey. Carolyn Graham and Donna Raines are assisting the authority with fundraising. The school system is in the process of contracting the project now.
Forms are available at City Hall, or can be downloaded from The Star-News website and mailed with your contribution to the PEBA.
Inscriptions for chairs purchased to date include:
- Sherry Clark, ADOL MGR; Vickie, Alden, Cameron and Kirby Johnson
- In memory of Boyd and Mildred Pass
- The Proctor Family
- Class of 1965
- Class of 1998
- The Krudop Family
- Clayton Bryant – teacher, coach, assistant principal, principal 1966-86; Superintendent, 1996-2002.
- Barbara Bryant – English and math teacher, 1966-1986
- Class of 1997
- Chase and LeAnne Cotton, Savannah, Crews, Coast
- Anita Graves Williams, Class of 1980
- Jonathan, Misty, Jenna, Jacob Parker
- In memory of Dr. Rex Chandler Jones, a supporter of education
- In memory of Stacy Lee Jones, loving mother of Chandler Jones, Class of 2016, J.W. Jones, Clss of 2019, Zoey, Class of 2028
- Myers and Freida P. Armstrong, Class of 1964
- Kevin Price, Class of 1975
- Class of 1961
- Class of 1991
- J. Norman Stokes, Jenelle S. Kelsoe, Justine (Tina) Stokes Richardson, Jerry E. Stokes,
- The Cynosure Club; Study – Our Watchword
- Class of 1972
- Class of 1999
- AHS Class of 2008
- AHS Retirees: Donna Cauley, Brad Garner, Angie Sasser
- In memory of Sara J. McAnulty
- In loving memory of Ronnie Thompkins
- In honor of Joseph C. Wingard, Class of 1972
- Sydney Callen Woodard, Class of 2018; Cameron Allen Woodard, Class of 2020
- Class of 1955
- Class of 1979
The Star-News will continue to update and publish the list of donors who sponsor chairs. A number of people have already purchased new chairs as part of the Andalusia High School Auditorium’s renovation project.
Andalusia Elementary School students got the first glimpse of the 2017 Christmas in Candyland on Friday morning.
School buses full of kindergarten students arrived at the square at 9 a.m. for the ribbon cutting ceremony, and the first snow of this year’s event.
The square features eight cottages this year.
At Springdale, fourth grade students got the chance to slide down the polar bear slide, ice skate on the new and improved skating rink, and explore the other 15 cottages.
“The reason we have Candyland, is really for the kids. It wouldn’t be a Merry Christmas without them,” Mayor Earl Johnson said.
Fabion Green, a fourth grader from AES, said he loved Candyland.
“It’s really beautiful. I love how they decorated, and how it’s kid friendly. I will come back next year,” Green said.
“I think there’s a lot of cool decorations. It’s fun to play and look at,” Andre Wright said.
“Well, to put it simply, if I were rating Candyland on a one to ten scale, I would give it a ten. Hopefully next year there can be more food-themed cottages, I really liked Huddle House’s,” Tyler Levitske said.
“I loved the ice skating rink, it’s really easy to skate on,” Levi Levitske said.