School project is now under budget

Architects have reduced the cost of the new Sisters high School to $20,874,607, about $125,393 below the school board's target of $21,000,000.

Most of the savings ($800,000) came from the elimination of about 8,000 square feet, achieved by reducing hallways and the size of the commons, according to a cost sheet from Steele Associates Architects dated November 11.

The new proposal also reduces locker room sizes ($100,000), eliminates the football stadium ($270,000), four tennis courts with lights ($128,000), softball and baseball field lights ($54,000) and the visitor and staff parking area ($80,000).

A motion by school board member Glen Lasken kept the number of seats in the auditorium at 900. This passed 3-2 at the November 2 special board meeting, with Lasken, Bill Reed and Jeff Smith in favor, and Steve Keeton and Heather Wester opposed.

In the discussion following that motion, classrooms were also put off limits to cuts.

These restrictions caused greater reductions in other areas, according to Superintendent Steve Swisher. The commons for example, will be able to serve 330 to 340 students instead of the original 400, Swisher said.

Some items eliminated from previous estimates have been added back in, including resurfacing the existing track ($120,000), and adding a shot put, javelin throw and discuss throw to existing high school ($20,000) and an outdoor basketball court ($18,000).

"Value engineering" savings include a change from aluminum windows to commercial grade vinyl windows ($100,000), using tilt-up concrete walls for the gym instead of concrete masonry unit walls ($60,000), going to stud, post and beam construction from a bearing wall of concrete masonry units ($70,000) and using exposed metal soffit panels instead of concealed metal soffit panels ($120,000).

Swisher indicated that additional value engineering savings are likely.

However, in the revised cost estimate, the architect warned that some of the changes would have a higher maintenance and/or operating cost.

The board is scheduled to meet on November 19 to discuss construction management arrangements designed to further reduce costs.