Houston County School System gets price tag for projects

The Houston County Board of Education got a first glimpse Monday night of the possible price tag for several building projects system administrators want to pursue.

These projects include:
—A $99,540 media center addition to Ashford Elementary School.
—A $579,000 addition to Ashford High School’s cafeteria.
—A $686,720 music building for Ashford High.
—A $566,400 P.E. building for Ashford High.
—A $78,760 parking lot for Ashford High.
—A $769,792 family and consumer science building for Cottonwood High School.
—A $1.3 million eight-classroom expansion for Rehobeth Elementary School.
—A $678,400 media center and administration building for Rehobeth Elementary School.
—A $1.3 million eight-classroom expansion for Rehobeth High School.
—A $686,720 music building for Rehobeth High.
—A $861,000 P.E. building for Rehobeth High.
—A $8.5 million new K-5 building for Wicksburg High School.
—A $15.9 million new high school building for Wicksburg High.
—A $861,400 new P.E. building for Wicksburg High.
—A $3.9 million Houston County Career and Technical Center.
—$1.4 million for a new football field at Rehobeth High.

Architect Chuck Dunseth told the board that the total cost of proposed projects, along with other costs and fees would total $33 million.

Houston County School Superintendent Tim Pitchford said that price tag is more than the $25 million he envisioned for the capital building program.

The school system has about $5 million on hand to finance building projects, and intends to fund the rest through a bond issue.

Because of the higher price tag, the system may have to prioritize some projects over others. At Monday’s meeting, board member Bobby Harrell suggested the music and P.E. buildings at Ashford High and Rehobeth High be built first, because some students currently have to drive off campus for these activites, creating a safety and liability issue.