AT A WORK SESSION ON A PROPOSED NEW PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, TUESDAY, THE THOMASTON UPSON BOARD OF EDUCATION HAD A MOTION AND A SECOND ON THE FLOOR TO ACCEPT A PLAN RECOMMENDED BY A PARENT AND STAFF ADVISORY COMMITTEE, BUT THE MOTION WAS WITHDRAWN. VETERAN BOARD MEMBER TERRELL JACKSON SAID HE STILL HAS SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT THE $7.5 MILLION PROPOSAL. ACCORDING TO THE COST ANALYSIS BY ARCHITECTS, MANLEY,SPANGLER, SMITH, THE SO-CALLED MULTI-USE PLAN WOULD INCLUDE CLASSROOMS FOR BAND AND CHORUS AND A GREEN SPACE FOR EVENT DRESSING ROOMS, IN ADDITION TO THE 900 SEAT AUDITORIUM. MR. JACKSON HAD SOME RESERVATIONS ABOUT ADDING THE CLASSROOMS AND BUMPING UP THE COST,BUT JAY EUBANKS, REPRESENTING THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE TOLD THE BOARD IT WOULD BE A DISSERVICE NOT TO INCLUDE THEM, THEY ARE NEEDED BECAUSE OF THE LOGISTICS OF MOVING BAND EQUIPMENT FOR CONCERTS. JACKSON SAID THE PROJECT HAD BEEN ADVERTISED TO THE PUBLIC FOR $6 MILLION, BUT NOW HAS MOVED TO $8 MILLION, WHEN THE ARCHITECTS FEES OF $400,000 ARE INCLUDED. THE SCHOOL SYSTEMS OPERATIONS DIRECTOR, MIKE MAJORS TOLD THE BOARD $3.2 MILLION IS LEFT FROM THE PREVIOUS SPLOST,BUT 1.4 OF THAT IS TARGETED FOR A NEW BUS BARN. THE BOARD HAS NOT DESIGNATED A USE FOR THE REST, LEADING TO SPECULATION IT COULD BE USED FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER. ACCORDING TO THE MULTIPURPOSE PLAN, THE AUDITORIUM WOULD BE 24,800 SQUARE FEET AT A COST OF $6.4 MILLION AND THE CLASSROOMS WOULD ADD ANOTHER $ I MILLION, 8000 SQUARE FEET. COACH MAJORS SAID THE ARCHITECTS ARE ANXIOUS TO GET STARTED WITH DRAWINGS, BUT THE BOARD PUT OFF A DECISION UNTIL THE NEXT REGULAR MEETING, OCT. 7TH.
No comments:
Post a Comment