GRAVETTE — Razing the interior of a wing at the “old Gravette High School” is underway in preparation for its demolition. It will be replaced by a new, more serviceable structure to become part of the Gravette Middle School.

Demolition of the old brick building, which is unoccupied, is to make room for a new $2,725,481 addition. A construction bid in that amount was approved last Wednesday evening at a meeting of the Gravette School Board.

The new building is part of a $4,256,179 project which includes a ball field complexon the new high school campus. This includes a baseball field, a softball field and supporting facilities.

Cost of the ball field complex is budgeted at $1,419,693 and renovation of the middle school south hallway adds another $28,562 to the total cost of the project. The fields were part of the original plan for the new high school complex.

Voters in Gravette School District 20 gave a resounding 376-59 approval for the projects in a special election held on Valentine’s Day this year.

Through the refinancing of existing bonds, and with a $1 million one-time pullback from the state, existingbuilding funds, debt service savings and issuance of $1 million in second lien bonds, the project involves no increase in the district’s low 37.2 millage rate.

Serviceable Building

Architects at a Rogers firm - Crafton, Tull and Sparks - are designers of the new building. Its face on the north will complement the existing middle school which it will join. Administration offices will be located at the northwest corner. A central east-west hallway will connect to the middle school.

Four large classrooms and a large art classroom will be located on the north side of the hallway. The south side will include a large consumer science department, restrooms and two large selfcontained classrooms.

The new wing will join the existing north-south wing of the original building, the hallway of which will lead south to the new music complex completed about two years ago. The wing is planned for Phase 2 renovation when needed. A courtyard is planned on the south side of the new wing.

Nabholz Construction of Rogers has been retained as construction manager for the projects. That firm has worked in a similar capacity for other local school projects, including the new high school complex.

Nabholz handled the bidding process, analyzed the more than 100 separate bids from firms which will be involved in the construction phase and made its recommendations to the board.

Changes Okayed

The board, in accepting the bids during the special meeting, also approved several alternates. A solid metal panel fence is to replace chain link at the ball fields. A netting backstop system and warning track rounds at the perimeter of each field were also approved.Among the changes at the middle school project were sidewalk replacement and adding an irrigation system. Savings were exacted by making changes in conduits, piping and venting equipment.

Decisions on the ball fields’ final lighting plans, a security system and the middle school concrete courtyard are still being evaluated.

According to the Nabholz project recap, it is expected the project can be completed within an eight-month time frame.

At its meeting, the board also approved a motion by board member Danny Alsup to form a committee to evaluate possible usage of the old annex building located just south of the school administration building. Members of the committee will include Richard Carver, Jason Carter, Kevin Smith, new superintendent Richard Page and high school principal James Chalk.

No decision was made concerning paving the road leading to the transportation complex on the high school campus.

News, Pages 3 on 06/20/2012