TRR photo by Tom Kane Turner representative Luis Rodriguez, left, and Hillier architect Mac Rawley discuss options for re-bidding the new high school construction with the school board. (Click for larger image)

Sullivan West high school opening delayed a year

School board
tries again

By TOM KANE

NARROWSBURG — For the second time, the Sullivan West board of education started the process of preparing bids for the new high school that was to open in the fall of 2002. Now, opening is going to be some time in 2003, announced Superintendent Michael Johndrow at a special meeting last Thursday.

A month ago, bids were returned to the district and were nearly $8 million over budget. All but two had to be rejected.

“We need to pare down some unessential elements without affecting programs,” said Luis Rodriguez, pre-construction specialist with the Turner Company that is advising the board in every aspect of construction. It is Turner’s responsibility to prepare the bids and pass them on to construction companies for acceptance.

Now the bid cycle would start in the beginning of October with bids to be returned by November.

The board is now examining Turner’s plan to pare down the $8 million by making adjustments to the original plan.

“We absolutely will not do anything to lessen the educational program,” Johndrow said.

Some of the items that may go are: air conditioning in the building except for the library, cafeteria, gymnasium, auditorium and some administration offices; some areas of artistic masonry; a “fly space” over the stage where scenery is held for performances; and a list of other minor enhancements. The school also will now have flat roofs instead of peaked roofs.

Besides the fly space over the stage, Rodriguez has suggested cutting some aspects of the television studio.

Board member Jerry Triolo was concerned about cuts occurring in the auditorium and television studio. “I don’t want to see the arts cut more than other areas,” he said.

Rodriguez assured board member Donna Sauer-Jones that the auditorium would remain as it was with seats for 600, but would have some non-essential things changed or eliminated.

“It will still look just as it was originally intended when you enter it,” he said.

Rodriguez and Hillier Company representative Mac Rawley told board members that October is an excellent time to bid when companies are looking for projects. This affects the price, they said.

“Also, we’re extending the time-line for completion of the project to 2003, which will put less pressure on construction companies to hire more people to cover double shifts,” Rawley said. “That’s going to be a big savings.”

“Why didn’t Turner foresee the bids coming in high?” asked a number of people in attendance at the board meeting.

“Turner is doing an excellent job,” said Rawley, an associate architect from the Hillier Company that also advises the board. “There were two major items that caused those high bids. First, location. This area is far away from where most construction companies operate. They would have to bring in labor. The second reason was that a number of new school constructions were begun just as this one was getting started. That drove up the cost.”

Rodriguez told the board that companies were still anxious to bid on the project.

The board will finalize its decisions with respect to what and how much to pare down at its next meeting at 7:30 p.m. on July 12 at Delaware Valley campus in Callicoon.