School construction funds found

By JUSTIN HARMON/Staff

For several years, Washington County’s school system has hoped to add on to several buildings, and for several years the funding has been elusive.
“We’ve been on a first priority waiting list for quite a while,” said Washington County Schools Director of Facilities and Logistics Lawrence Bauer.
Recently, the school system was given the money to begin a multi-phase expansion and improvement project on four schools.
“You can wait years and years for money, which we have,” Bauer said.
He said phase one of the project includes additions to Abingdon, High Point and Valley Institute elementary schools and E.B. Stanley Middle School.
The work, he said, is needed for a number of reasons, foremost among them is the change in programs initiated by the passing of the No Child Left Behind Act.
“There’s the growth of schools in number as well as changes in the programs that we’re required to teach by the No Child Left Behind act that require space… special needs, English as a Second Language; the list goes on and on,” he said. “That’s what’s driving the need for space.”
The project, a $5.8 million endeavor, is being funded through bonds and subsidiary money from the Virginia Department of Treasury. According to Bauer, the school district will have to pay back the bonds, which make up the majority of the funding, but the subsidiary money is for keeps.
The bonds were approved and will be sold this month, Bauer said.
Bauer said the school district would hold a pre-bid conference Oct. 24.
Sealed bids will be taken through Nov. 29 and the contract will be awarded Nov.30.
Bauer said word has gotten out to construction companies and architectural firms and, though bidding hasn’t officially started, some have shown interest.
“The community is buzzing. We’re really ready to do this.”
One reason for starting the project so soon after getting funds was the concern over the ever- increasing expense of construction.
“It’s a huge construction project,” he said. “We’d like to do it sooner rather than later… construction costs go up daily,” he said.
Bauer estimates the project would likely take at least 18 months.