School Board Looks at White Pine Plans

The Jefferson County School Board met last week to discuss and vote on design plans for the renovation and additions to White Pine School. A project that has joint funding from the County Commission and the School Board, the White Pine School renovation was bound to a $2 million dollar price tag. However, design plans that were presented to the School Board came in at $2,115,326 and did not include equipment upgrades for the school’s kitchen, which was identified as the most problematic area. The plans did include a 60% increase in kitchen space, as well as an addition which would house four classrooms, a band room and storage space, a conference room, three administrative offices and a connecting stairway and elevator.

While the Board was concerned with approving the project in time for a summer kitchen renovation, most of the discussion centered around meeting the $2 million dollar price point. Representatives from Cope, the school’s architectural firm, were on hand to discuss options adjustments. The firm had also included four additional classrooms, which could be added in pairs for around $325,000 for each set and equipment for the kitchen at a total estimated cost of $202,125. The consensus of the Board through discussion was to include the kitchen equipment in the base plan and make the necessary adjustments elsewhere.

Approved design plans must be present to the County Commission for approval prior to the County Commission releasing their $1 million dollar contribution to the program. In the interest of time, the School Board, via a Motion from Chairman Jarnigan and 2nd from Board Member Vines, voted unanimously to have Cope include the kitchen equipment in the base plan and make adjustments to space in the addition, for a total cost of $2 million dollars. They also, with a Motion from Board Member Potts and 2nd from Vines, unanimously approved requesting that the County Commission consider funding the additional $900,000 ( full amount $2.9 million) for the entire project that would add a total of 8 classrooms and remove the need for students in portable classrooms. The Board also gave Jefferson County Finance Director Potts the nod to go out for RFP for a Construction Manager for the project, with a Motion from Vines and 2nd from Board Member Cavanah.

Board Members Lowery and Rogers were not in attendance.

Source: K. Depew, News Director