New Sandusky school project hits rock bottom

The construction of the new Sandusky Middle School is off to a rocky start — literally.

That’s what Lynchburg City Schools officials learned when they were briefed on the new school’s construction at Tuesday’s school board meeting.

“It was a significant amount of rock,” said Dominion Seven Architects representative Blair Smith of what was found beneath the ground when crews started work. “That’s where a bulk of contingency money went.”

Smith said removing the rock was costly, but he assured board members the project's budget is still intact.

It’s not uncommon to find such rock in this area, Smith said, but just how much you’ll find is often unknown until construction starts.

“It’s a crap shoot to some degree,” he said.

Still, the building’s construction is progressing on time, he said. The track and field is near completion and was only slightly behind schedule.

“If this is not the best middle school track and field in the state, I don’t know what is,” Smith said.

The new Sandusky will be the city’s first new school since Heritage High School was built in mid-1970s. The project is estimated to cost about $28 million and be completed in 2010. Construction started in June.

At the meeting, Smith also showed the board dramatic before and after shots of the construction area since June, including the nearly complete track and field that elicited murmurs from officials. He reported some difficultly with the field’s goal posts, which arrived damaged, but said the issue is being resolved.

The track and field will not be used until spring 2009.

Pictures presented to the board clearly showed the new building’s foundation and the school’s infrastructure taking shape. Smith said a committee will work on the color selection for the outside and inside of the building.

Smith also reported good cooperation with the school and construction crews working on the new facility, and invited board members to call him if they wanted a tour.

In other news, the board:

w Discussed its comprehensive plan, which is currently a work in progress. Some board members requested more information on the division’s projected enrollment.

Also during the meeting, the board sought public input on the plan, but no one was present to speak. School administration did report two comments were received via e-mail.

Officials will evaluate the plan further during the next school board meeting Nov. 18, which will serve as a work session. The public will have until then to submit comments via e-mail. The plan can be found at www.lynchburg.org.

w Discussed a proposed policy change geared at energy conservation measures.

“We wanted to put a policy in place that would give us help and support and put in writing what we intend to do,” said Roger Roberts, deputy superintendent.

One of the proposed changes would stipulate the temperatures for classrooms, hallways and offices. Another would specifically state lights in classrooms are to be turned off when not in use and maintenance staff will turn on lights only for the section of the building they are working in.

The policy was placed on the consent agenda and will likely be approved at the board’s December meeting.