OXFORD – The Oxford School Board announced last night it will reconvene the district’s Facility Advisory Committee in January, with the intention of having a proposal for a second capital project before voters next fall.
The discussion regarding the “Phase II” project, which Board President Robin DeBrita said would address larger-scale facility and grade configuration issues, came after representatives from the architectural and engineering firm retained by the district, the Bernier Carr Group, updated the board on the status of the current project approved by voters in September.
According to BCG CEO Bernard Brown, Jr., the firm is currently working to complete design documents for the $4.65 million project, which will be submitted to the New York State Education Department for review and approval in June of 2010. They hope to have that approval by September, he said, with bidding to take place through October. The bids would then be awarded in November, with pre-construction beginning in December and actual construction to commence in early 2011. Construction is expected to take between 12 to 18 months to complete.
Brown said they are also continuing to work with SED to determine the best way of completing installation of flood gates at the middle school. The first part of the project was funded through FEMA, with the remainder included in the current project budget. He said he is waiting to hear back from the state regarding whether they will need to re-bid the second portion of the project, or if it can be done as a change order.
The district will need to decide if they will hire a clerk of the works to oversee the project, contract with an independent construction management firm or utilize BCG’s own integrated construction phase services, which BCG Chairperson Pam Beyor outlined for the board.
“You’ve got the luxury of time here,” said Brown, explaining that the district had several months to decide what would best meet their needs and comfort level.
The same may not be true for the subsequent project, however.
“The EXCEL money isn’t going to last forever,” Brown reported, referring to the remainder of the state grant allocation which Oxford will only use a portion of for the current “Phase I” project.
A handful of community members were present during the workshop discussion, which took place in advance of last night’s regular school board meeting.
Oxford resident John Weidman, a member of the Facility Advisory Committee, was one of those in attendance. While Weidman encouraged the board to expedite the planning process for the second project in order to utilize the EXCEL funds, he cautioned against any plan that would lead to the decommissioning of the 79-year old Middle School building as an educational facility.
“That’s a real sore point for the community,” he said.