Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, June 23, 1995 TAG: 9506230053
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Despite a big increase in construction costs, Roanoke County school officials will proceed with plans for the gym - and possibly delete some other parts of the project if bids are too high.
Frank Thomas, chairman of the School Board, said Thursday night that the gymnasium probably will have priority if funds are short.
The board has a $3.3 million budget for the gymnasium, a 350-seat auditorium and four classrooms, to be built near Northside Middle School.
Last week, architects estimated that a 2,240-seat gym, with the auditorium and classrooms, would cost $4.75 million. A 1,600-seat facility would cost $4.08 million.
The architects said the budgeted money would finance the auditorium, classrooms and a gym that seats 800 to 1,000. They said the cost estimates were based on recent bids on schools and two gyms in Augusta County similar in design to the Northside gym.
About two dozen Northside boosters and parents urged the School Board on Thursday night to seek additional money from the Board of Supervisors to build the 2,240-seat gym as well as the auditorium and classrooms.
School Board member Jerry Canada supported the boosters' request, saying they have waited patiently for a bigger gym.
Canada said the residents in North Roanoke County have been on a roller coaster on the project for two years.
``At one point, we were talking about an $8 million to $9 million field house and gym, but that was reduced, and the residents reluctantly agreed to accept less,'' he said.
``Now we are possibly $1.5 million or more short in funds,'' Canada said. ``If we can't get a gym in the range of 2,000 seats, we might as well forgo it.''
Northside's gym seats about 1,000, but 2,000 spectators have attended some of the school's basketball games, which were played at Salem High School or Roanoke College. Attendance at the school's games has risen sharply with the team's success in recent years.
Thomas said the School Board might have to ask for more money for the Northside project, but he doesn't think that now is the time to do that.
The architects will design the project with alternatives so different parts can be deleted, depending on the bids, he said.
``We will have the option of going with the gym only and dropping the auditorium and classrooms,'' he said.
Thomas said he is not convinced the bids will be as high as the architects expect. Roanoke County received bids last spring on Glenvar Middle School that were substantially lower than those for the Augusta County schools, he said.
``I feel like we are going to get competitive bids. Contractors will be looking for work this fall when we bid the project,'' Thomas said.
He said the school system should seek bids before it considers asking the supervisors for more money.
``Once we have accurate figures on costs, then we can consider asking for help from the county on funding alternatives,'' he said. School officials already are working with the county on funding options if the bids are high, he said.
Supervisor Bob Johnson said he agrees with Canada that there would be no point in building a new gym with only 800 to 1,000 seats.
``I'm not in favor of a small gym, a replica of what we have now,'' Johnson said. One option would be to delay the auditorium and classrooms if bids are too high, he said.
``My preference is to build a gym of a decent size,'' Supervisor Lee Eddy said.
One option would be to finance the gym with a state Literary Fund loan instead of Virginia Public School Authority bonds, he said. This would provide more money without increasing the debt payments, Eddy said.
Supervisor Harry Nickens said he wants school officials to consider all alternatives before asking the supervisors for more money. He suggested that the gym might be designed so it could double as an auditorium.
In other action Thursday night, the School Board approved the appointment of three assistant principals: Jean Stewart at Northside High, Barbara Cribbs at Glenvar Elementary and Jean Brammer at Green Valley Elementary.
by CNB