THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, March 13, 1995 TAG: 9503130041
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY ANNE SAITA, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CURRITUCK LENGTH: Medium: 59 lines
Still reeling from higher-than-expected construction costs for a new high school, the Currituck County Board of Education has another problem.
J.H. Hudson Construction Co., the general contractor that submitted the low bid to build the $16.5 million facility, is changing owners and wants a contract signed by March 21.
The school board will meet for a work session at 6 p.m. today to discuss its options, which include signing a $15.1 million contract with limited negotiability or advertising for new offers.
Those talks at the Currituck County High School media center will be followed by the board's regular 7 p.m. meeting.
C. Michael Ross, the chief architect for the new high school project, is recommending that the school board rebid the project. The first set of bids came in millions more than expected, partly because of a recent construction boom.
Schools officials have tried to trim costs for the new school, to be located in Barco, but are still way over the $11.9 million originally set aside for construction.
The new school is a key component to alleviating crowded conditions at schools in northern and central Currituck County.
``The architects think there's still a good possibility we could be in the building by September 1996,'' Currituck County Schools Superintendent W.R. ``Ronnie'' Capps said.
``By the same token, I think we have to anticipate the reality of making sure that quality is not sacrificed for time,'' Capps said.
During prior discussions with the county commissioners, Ross and others warned that advertising for new construction bids could result in an even higher price, given the current market for educational and institutional buildings in the area.
But Ross said Thursday that lower numbers also are possible.
``This is not necessarily a setback,'' he said. ``It could be a good thing.''
Capps said news that St. Louis-based J.S. Alberici Corp. was divesting itself from J.H. Hudson surprised everyone.
``Apparently the first public knowledge of that, as far as we know, was an article that appeared in The Daily Reflector in Greenville, which is J.H. Hudson's base,'' Capps said.
The news article said all work under contract until Jan. 1, 1996, will be completed by T.A. Loving Construction Co. of Goldsboro.
Other agenda items at the regular board meeting include a resolution to accept $16.5 million from the Board of Commissioners to pay for the new high school.
If approved, other projects, such as an addition at Central Elementary School in Maple and a new elementary school in Jarvisburg, would be put on hold until funds became available. by CNB