THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, February 8, 1995 TAG: 9502080503
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY ANNE SAITA, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CURRITUCK LENGTH: Medium: 63 lines
Currituck commissioners are giving the school board the money it requested to build a new high school, despite cost projections coming in millions more than budgeted.
The Board of Commissioners agreed late Monday tentatively to fund the new school at a current cost of $16,495,512 - about $4 million more than it had planned to spend.
The high school, considered a cornerstone in a major school construction plan, may come at the cost of school renovation projects throughout the county.
The money to build the 159,455-square-foot facility next to the existing high school in Barco will come from $19.4 million in school construction bonds and tax revenue.
``We appreciate what you have directed us, or allowed us, to do,'' Sam Walker, vice chairman of the Board of Education, told commissioners at Monday's meeting.
The boards have been at odds since the low construction bid for the new high school came in $3.7 million over budget.
School officials and an architect have since worked to trim $1.6 million in costs, but they did not want to cut costs further by reducing the size or scope of the high school.
Commissioners have said they wish to adhere to the schedule approved by voters in a $16 million bond referendum. Of that amount, $12.2 million had been earmarked for a new high school.
Construction costs, however, have soared since that figure was set in 1993, leaving county officials grappling with how to provide quality schools with less buying power.
In a Feb. 6 memorandum to the school board, the Board of Commissioners agreed to fund the high school at current construction prices, but also noted the following:
Any leftover money from the $16.4 million would be reserved for an elementary school.
No funds would be promised to renovate Central Elementary; or to repair the roof at the existing high school, which will become the junior high school after the new high school opens in 1996; or for a new school site in Moyock.
The school board must provide firm contract prices for all work accomplished prior to commissioners' approval.
Internal controls for change orders must be in place. Change orders in past school construction projects, including the recent expansion at W.T. Griggs Elementary School, have resulted in large cost overruns.
Construction funds cannot be shifted without commissioners' approval.
Monthly expense and program reports must be submitted at Board of Commissioners meetings.
Commissioners can be a party to all contracts awarded in order to receive sales tax revenue needed for the bond project.
The commissioners on Monday also approved a resolution asking the General Assembly for the power to acquire school property in order to receive a sales tax refund.
If approved, the county could recoup between $500,000 and $1 million in proceeds, officials said. by CNB