School Board Interviews Architects for White Pine Project

The Jefferson County School Board is one step closer to renovation of White Pine School, following last week’s School Board meeting. Five architect firms gave presentations and participated in a question and answer session with Board Members, as the Board worked to determine their top choices for architectural services for the White Pine project. Each Board Member, with the exception of Roger who was absent, ranked the firms and the tabulations were counted to establish the order in which negotiations will occur.

Jefferson County Finance Director Potts and Director of Jefferson County Schools Edmonds were instructed by the Board to negotiate with Cope, Red Chair and The Lewis Group, in that order. Should Cope, the Board’s first choice, not find acceptable terms during the negotiation process, Director Potts and Director Edmonds will move to the second choice, Red Chair, and then the third choice, The Lewis Group. The negotiation process is mandated and outside the control of the Board. Funds were previously allocated for design at $25,000.

In other action, Karen Everett of the Jefferson County Historical Society addressed the Board concerning two cabins that the group are requesting to locate on school property. One of the cabins is owned by Bush Brothers and the company has offered to disassemble the cabin and move it to the new location. Assistance from the school system would be required for labor in site preparation and construction, though Everett stated that no funding were being requested from the Department of Education. At the request of the Board, Facilities Director Michael Phagan will return with any costs that could be associated with the project. The Board also approved budget amendments for General Purpose, Federal and Food Service, as well as a handful of policies on both first and second reading.