Minutes

Construction Advisory Committee Meeting

March 26, 2007

Committee members met at the Fayette County Board of Education to discuss the ongoing construction occurring within the school system. Mr. Lee Davis, Comptroller, welcomed the members to the meeting. Dr. John DeCotis, Superintendent, and Mr. Davis thanked everyone for coming to the meeting.

Mr. Klaus Darnall, Construction Manager, reported on the most recent FY2005 bond construction projects. The construction on Bennett’s Mill Middle School is still ahead of schedule. The bus canopy is 80% completed, as well as the maple gym flooring. Exterior and interior doors have been installed. Tile floors in bathrooms are completed. Lockers are 99% installed, and ceiling grids are complete. The media and administration areas are carpeted, and 97% of light fixtures are installed. The expected occupation date is in mid May, 2007. Mr. Darnall explained that the original emergency generator’s motor was not working, and that a replacement motor would be arriving in approximately 3 weeks. This generator controls emergency lighting, etc.

At Fayette Middle School, the kitchen walls are completed and quarry tile is installed. The vent hood is being installed, and the cooking equipment is scheduled to arrive during the first week in April.

At Brooks Elementary School, foundation roof framing is being completed. This project was originally behind schedule, and will add 6 classrooms on to the original structure.

Oak Grove Elementary School’s kitchen bid came in over budget. The two bidders’ prices were within 0.18% of each other. The lower bid was approved by the Board. The contractor and architect are preparing contract insurance documents, and old equipment from the existing kitchen will be auctioned off in June, 2007.

Inman Elementary School will be bid upon on April 10, 2007.

At the site proposed for the New Elementary School #2, (Sandy Creek Road and Tillman) the soil analysis and boring tests assured that the site was suitable for a school. The Board has decided to purchase the site. This site is approximately 30 acres, and it is expected that Tillman will be the boundary for the Fayette bypass, and we may forgo some of this land for this purpose.

Mr. Davis and Mr. Darnall briefly discussed the projects listed for the “10 year facilities plan” this summer. The track at Sandy Creek High School is now completed, and tile was installed under the stands to help with drainage on the field. It was mentioned that the crown on the field will need to be redone sometime in the future. Additionally, new press boxes will be constructed for Fayette County and McIntosh High Schools.

Mr. Davis spoke about the sale of school bonds, which had occurred on March 22, 2007. At the recommendation of Mr. Jim Stephens, former Comptroller for the system, the Board chose the CitiGroup as their Bond Underwriter, and to sell the bonds on a Thursday, which was one of the better days to sell bonds on. For the system, this was fortunate, as we received a favorable yield on these traditional bonds, which were ratified by the Fayette County Government that same evening. We are expected to close on the sale on April 3, 2007, and the first draw down is expected in December. Mr. Davis was pleased with the sale, and stated that this was one of the smoother bond sales that he has seen.

Dr. DeCotis spoke about the new elementary boundary procedure that will occur next fall. With our two new elementary schools opening up in Fall 2008, and Fall 2009, and at the advice of PTO members, the Board decided to hire a consultant, Mr. Kelly Carey, to advise us on how to go about drawing these boundary lines. A committee, comprised of 1 representative from each school, and staff will be selected for the committee, which will meet in May. The committee will reconvene in August, make recommendations to a staff committee, which will make recommendations to the Board of Education in November. Dr. DeCotis also discussed the Board’s new procedure of not allowing employees’ children to attend schools that are overcrowded if they live out of district.

The meeting was adjourned. Dr. DeCotis thanked everyone for coming and stated that he hoped they enjoyed the meeting.