Jul 24, 2002 By April Straughters 3 min read

BROWNSVILLE -Brownsville Area school directors, the district’s architect, construction manager and investment firm met Tuesday to discuss the high school/middle school renovation project, but they still do not have a feasibility study or a cost figure. Michael Molnar, the district’s architect, told the board they have to “seriously consider what they can afford.”

“I have to know my limits,” Molnar said.

He said the feasibility study for the project to expand classroom space and common area space, including the gymnasium and cafeteria, is 80 percent complete. He said he would have the study complete by Tuesday, July 30, for a 6 p.m. meeting with the board.

Superintendent Dr. Gerry Grant said portable classrooms are a number one concern for the district with school starting next month.

Overcrowding at the high school is a major concern for the district since the Redstone Middle School was closed last year, forcing those students to the high school.

Molnar advised the board that in order to be eligible for reimbursement for portable classrooms from the state Department of Education, as the board had hoped to be, the high school/middle school project must be the first phase of a larger project.

He said the district must plan to implement a project more than 20 percent but less than 60 percent of the total value of the high school/middle school building. He said the maximum reimbursement the district would receive is 45 to 46 percent.

The board discussed possible cost figures for the project, but did not come to any agreement. Grant said she hoped to come up with a figure when the board meets with Molnar next week. In previous meetings, $10 million was the figure mentioned.

Grant has said that $10 million is a likely figure because the district has that amount to spend through an $8.2 million bond issue and $1.4 million grant.

Director Dr. Melvin Sally said the board should try to come up with a “maximum figure” for the project, based on different cost savings as a result of the renovations, such as energy savings and cost of staff, which may change as a result of the renovations.

Director Stella Broadwater expressed her interest in keeping the project cost at $10 million.

“Let’s go with what we have and stay on safe ground,” she said.

A representative from RRZ Public Markets, Inc., the district’s investment firm, said $37 million would be a maximum figure, with the district paying out $18.5 million based on a 50 percent reimbursement from the state. He estimated 22 mills would be needed to pay that debt.

The district has allocated 5 mills, or $250,000, of the recent 12-mill tax increase for the high school/middle school project.

Sally said he would like to look into raising the extra millage needed for a maximum project figure through cost savings, not a tax hike.

“We don’t want to go with a project of such small scale if we don’t have to,” he said. “I don’t want my taxes raised anymore than anyone else.”

Representatives from Maccabee Industrial Inc., Belle Vernon, said their attorney is still reviewing their contract. But they said once the contract is approved, they will be able to save the district money by acting as the advisor for the project.