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<br /> point in late August of 1988 the estimated square footage was 116,485 (this 4
<br /> square footage would have cost $7,571 ,525 at $65 per foot) , but changes were
<br /> still being made. Finally, on February 6, 1989, the Board of Education
<br /> approved the Design Development phase after all possible reductions for a
<br /> total of 99,328 square feet, with an estimated building cost at $65 p.s.f.
<br /> of $6,456,320, with a range upward to $70 p.s.f. for a possible building
<br /> cost of $6,952,960 (see Attachment #5 - Doggett letter of February 6, 1989) .
<br /> Having realized that these changes would have a significant impact, we
<br /> submitted an updated CIP in late January, 1989, which showed an updated total
<br /> cost of $8, 122,370 with a projected completion date of August, 1990 (see Attach-
<br /> ment #6) . Also note that the school size had been reduced to 600 students to
<br /> save costs.
<br /> To comply with North Carolina State School Board regulations where a design
<br /> does not meet specifications, we submitted a request for approval for deviation
<br /> in March of 1989. The requirement called for Board of Commissioners approval,
<br /> and this was granted on March 21 , 1989. At that time we reviewed with the Board
<br /> of Commissioners our concerns about the new standards and the impact on cost .
<br /> Out of an ongoing concern for 1) best utilization of school building space,
<br /> 2) cost of new construction, and 3) population growth, in the spring of 1989
<br /> the school administrative staff proposed that the new school be built to house
<br /> K-5 students instead of K-6. This would require the ongoing utilization of
<br /> A. L. Stanback as a sixth grade middle school and allow time for additional
<br /> revenue development for the proposed second new school for the Orange County
<br /> Schools. This proposal was communicated to Mr. Link and the Commissioners.
<br /> The Board of Education approved this proposal on April 24, 1989.
<br /> Concurrently, the school staff and the architectural staff were trying
<br /> to meet the requirements of water/sewer service for the new school and still
<br /> have fourteen ( 14) months of construction time prior to a targeted completion
<br /> of August, 1990. Because the possibility of water/sewer service from Hillsborough
<br /> was not clear at that time due to needed county policy development and intra-
<br /> governmental review scheduled for September, 1989, and the state on-site water/
<br /> sewer review process was so extensive, I determined in late May, 1989, that we
<br /> would not be able to make our targeted opening of 1990. Reluctantly, I acknowl-
<br /> edged this, and the opening was rescheduled by the Board of Education for the
<br /> fall of 1991 . This delay, of course, will have definite impact on construction
<br /> costs. _
<br /> When we reported our updated CIP to Mr. Link on December 5, 1989, it
<br /> reflected a total cost of $8,547,386, up from the late January, 1989, cost
<br /> cited above of $8, 122,370. I would like to note that this projected cost of
<br /> $8,547,386 is for a mid-range building construction cost of $7,254,304 including
<br /> water/sewer service of approximately $645,000 for a net building cost estimate
<br /> of $6,609,304. This total project cost was included in the working figures
<br /> reviewed with the County Commissioners at their early January, 1990, retreat
<br /> that Dr. Singer and I attended (see Attachment #7 - county staff worksheet) .
<br /> In addition, there was an inquiry about the designated $300,000 for
<br /> equipment and furnishings. This allocation is less than the 8% suggested
<br /> cost percentage shown in the earlier cost estimate. This formula would
<br /> produce an equipment/furnishings amount of approximately $530,000. However,
<br /> this $300,000 is to purchase student desks and chairs, teacher desks/chairs,
<br /> media center furnishings and other support furnishings, such as the cafeteria.
<br /> By illustration the current cost of one quality student desk and chair is $65.
<br /> This figure for a beginning school population of 550 would require $35,750.
<br /> In addition, since this will be an additional school, we will need to fully
<br /> stock the media center with equipment, books and audio-visual material.
<br />
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