Published: January 21, 2008 04:00 pm      

JISD expected to hire architect for possible school upgrades

By Raymond Billy

rbilly@jacksonvilleprogress.com

The Board of Trustees of the Jacksonville Independent School District may hire an architectural firm Tuesday that would design the expansion of Nichols Intermediate School, should such a project be undertaken.

Jacksonville-based JML Architects and Tyler’s Eubanks, Harris, Roberts, Craig Architects Inc. will make their respective pitches during the January meeting of the Board of Trustees.

If a firm is chosen, it would be tasked with examining Nichols Intermediate to determine the cost of expanding the school to accommodate the estimated 141-student enrollment increase that is expected to occur by the 2012-2013 academic year.

Nichols Intermediate School Principal Tammy Jones outlined the growth projections for her school over the next five years at the December meeting of the Board of Trustees.

Lindy Finley, assistant superintendent of finance and operations for JISD, said hiring a firm to determine a price estimate for the possible expansion of Nichols won’t cost the school district a dime.

“When you contract with the architect and you begin working with them on a project, the point you’re obligated to pay an architect is when you go out for bid — in other words, when the project has been approved to be a go,” Finley said. “Contracting with the architect in January is not going to cause us to owe anything unless we actually proceed with the project and bid it out.”

Finley said JISD hopes to have an estimate for the potential project by the February school board meeting.

If expansion takes place at Nichols, it would occur on the north wing of the school facility.

The district also wants the architect chosen to determine the cost of renovations to the 200 building of Jacksonville High School. The project would entail remodeling classrooms and upgrading the building’s air conditioning and heating systems.

Other items on the agenda will be:

• consider a vendor bid for custodial supplies and related materials;

• consider a resolution stating the Board of Trustees has reviewed and approved the investment policy and investment strategy as stated therein; and

• approve consent agenda,

The JISD Board of Trustees will meet at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday in the JISD Administration Building. The meeting was pushed back one day because of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.