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A Publication of Guidry News Service |
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A Publication of Guidry News Service |
The Galveston Independent School District Board of Education on Wednesday unanimously voted to have Houston-based PBK Architects oversee Bay Architects' redesign work on the new Crenshaw Elementary & Middle School on the Bolivar Peninsula. PBK Architects offered its services on the project at no cost to the district, committing to have redesign plans completed by May 1. The architects and district staff agreed to begin working on new perimeters for the school immediately. The board decided to re-evaluate plans for the school after construction bids came in at $9.9 million compared to the preliminary estimates of $7.1 million. GISD is building the new school through funds approved by voters in a December 2003 School Bond Election. PBK estimates that a redesign of the school that would include reducing the size of the classrooms, library, band hall, gym and hallways would cost the district $8.45 million at most. "I don't think we had a realistic perception of what our cost would be on Bolivar," said GISD Superintendent Lynn Hale. "But I am satisfied with the recommendations of both architects on where we can reduce the size of the school without impacting instruction. "Our goal is to have this school open by Fall 2005 and we need to do whatever is possible to make that happen." The school board also directed staff and the architects to secure a construction management risk program for the school in an effort to reduce costs. The school board voted 5-1, with President John W. Ford opposed, to approve the prevailing wage rate that was developed by PBK in strict accordance with the Texas Government Code Chapter 2258. Several people representing four local building trade unions attended the meeting to complain that the prevailing wage is not high enough, but they were not allowed to speak at the meeting. Ground was broken for the new Bolivar school on Monday.
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