OXFORD – Fewer than two dozen Oxford residents attended a public information session Thursday night concerning the school system’s proposed building project. The meeting was the first of two scheduled by the Oxford Academy & Central School District to allow residents the opportunity to learn more about the $10.16 million Phase II capital project before it goes before voters on Nov. 18.
According to Superintendent Randy Squier, the intent of the project is to renovate and reconstruct the school system’s existing buildings, and will focus largely on classroom and learning spaces.
“It’s part two of the overall long term plan the board has been working on for the last five years,” Squier told those in attendance, explaining that conceptually school leaders view the two phases as one big project.
Voters approved the first phase of the project last fall, authorizing $4.65 million to address the most critical items identified in the most recent building condition survey and by staff. The Phase I project is still on track, the superintendent reported. The project’s design documents are currently being reviewed by the State Education Department. The project’s architects, the Bernier Carr Group, anticipates going out to bid in the spring, with actual construction commencing next summer.
According to Squier, $9,960,000 of the secondary project’s total projected $10,160,375 cost will be funded through a combination of state building aid and EXCEL aid. The remaining $200,375 will be expended out of the district’s capital reserve fund.
“There will no additional local tax increase,” he stressed, a statement which John C. Shehadi of Fiscal Advisors, the district’s financial advisors, was quick to confirm.
Nor will the project drain the district’s entire capital reserve, according to Interim Business Manager Harold Covey. When asked about the account’s balance, Covey reported the reserve fund currently contains between $460,000 and $470,000.
The scope of the project includes $7,150,880 in improvements to the historic middle school building with the remaining $3,009,495 allocated for work at the primary/high school campus.
Squier presented floor plans depicting where work will be done at each of the buildings as well as proposed site work at the primary/high school. The floor plans were also included in a special edition of the Blackhawk Bulletin which district residents received this week. The complete scope of work for the project is available on the district website, www.oxac.org.
Some of the largest expenditures at the Oxford Middle School will be $1,587,600 to convert the building’s current steam heating system to a more efficient hot water system. The district also intends to raise the school’s boiler room above the flood level. $946,960 will be spent reconstructing existing classrooms, and an additional $150,000 has been allocated to convert the space currently occupied by the district office to classroom use. Separate line items have been included in the scope of work to renovate the school’s media center, music, art, science and multi-purpose rooms.
“Each of the classrooms will be touched in some way,” Squier reported.
At the primary/high school campus, $1,341,992 will be spent on site work, which will include addressing drainage issues, improving the athletic fields and replacing bleachers. $290,000 has been allocated to reconfigure the buildings administrative offices to accommodate relocation of the district offices and special education offices. Additional work will include introducing wireless connectivity, increasing the size of the high school art room and creating a shared entrance for the primary and high school to address safety concerns during daytime hours.
Squier stressed that this last will have no affect on parents dropping off and picking up students at the start and end of the school day.
A second public information session is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 10 in the high school’s performing arts auditorium.
The project vote will take place on Nov. 18 at the Oxford High School. Polls will be open from 1 to 9 p.m. on the day. U.S. citizens over the age of 18 who have resided in the district for a minimum of 30 days are eligible to vote. Absentee ballots are available for qualified voters who are unable to appear in person due to illness, physical disability, hospitalization or travel. To obtain an application, contact the district office at 843-2025, ext. 4040.
For more information on the building project, visit www.oxac.org.