Dekalb County, GA – In a 5-1 vote on April 21, the school authority of the DEKALB County School District approved the final contract for $ 141.6 million with the Gilbane Building Company for the construction of new Sequoyah middle and high schools despite impending financing concerns.
The project is financed from the educational purpose of the school district of local option VAT (E-SPOLT) and the $ 87 million, which were already approved for its session in May 2024 with a guaranteed maximum price of USD 233 million.
The board member Whitney McGinnis was the only member of the board in the opposition and was concerned about the approval of ESPLOST projects until the district can be more transparent with the community and brings an assignment about which projects can be pushed back due to a lack of funds.
“Another long -term concern that I had is that we are all sitting up here and know that we cannot do all the projects, but we did not get what these projects are with and approved the chance of open discussions,” said McGinniss.
Board member Diijon Dacosta Sr. was not available at the meeting, which only led to six votes for each point.
Andrew Zehr supported the Sequoyah projects and found that the project has been the case in advance for over a decade and that there has been a “gigantic hole” behind the current building since the start of the project, which would be untouched if the project was not approved.
The Chief Operations Officer Erick Hofstetter emphasized that future projects could possibly be delayed due to a lack of ESPLOST Financing, but the current needs are still available.
Click to learn more about the current Espost situation of DCSD Here.
In a 4-2 vote, the board also approved a contract of USD 23.5 million with the Winter Construction Company for the Ashford Park Elementary School HVAC replacement and renovation work.
The project financed by ESPOST VI was initially proposed last month, but after he was pushed back to April, he approved it after meeting members of the Ashford Park Community, who supported the renovation work.
The total cost of the project was 24.3 million US dollars, with the board members McGinnis and Hogan opposed.
During the approval of these projects, the Board of Directors initially refused approval for two change order requests for current contracts, but reconsidered it after a break before the public comment and later approved them.
The first proposal was for a Montclair Elementary School HLK and Controls replacement project that required an additional 549,427 USD. The second rejected proposal was for the Briarlake Elementary School Hvac and Controls replacement project, for which additional 523,709 US dollars were required.
Both elements initially failed in 3-2-1 votes, with McGinniss and Hogan waived the board member Awet Eyasu.
Both were approved for 4-2 votes for checking, with McGinniss and Hogan being.
The school authority in other business areas:
-In of a 4-1-1 vote approved a change in the contract to SSOE | Add $ 2 million to Espost Finance Deticants for Stevens & Wilkinson for the most important project of the Champion Middle Middle School. McGinniss was voted with no, although Eyasu did without.
The change was initially planned to replace HLK components at CTMS, and added: “The fee for the design for the design of additional areas requested by DCSD, including a complete exchange and conversion of the HLK system, the addition of a fire sprinkler system, the replacement of ceilings and lights, classroom upgrades and renovation of the old skirt -Fitness studies. “
– Renewed teacher residence partnerships with the Kennesaw State University for $ 749,120 and with Clayton State University for $ 460,200.
-In of a 4-1-1 vote approved a change order of $ 1.15 million with evergreen construction for the DEKALB High School of Technology-South Major Building Systems replacement project. McGinniss was voted and Eyasu abstained.
-In of a 5-1 vote, the contract extension of $ 5.6 million approved for the USDA product processing of schools with eight different processors. This is the fourth and last year of extension of the contract.
Eyasu voted no and cited concerns about the serving students processed food.
-In of a 5-1 vote approved a contract extension of $ 5.4 million with the Southeasters Paper Group for goods and services to support the needs of the district. This is the first of four potential extensions of the contract. Eyasu voted no
-In a 5-1 vote, a contract for $ 10 million with spare parts companies (WW Grainger) for repair and maintenance services. This is the third and last year of extension of the contract. Eyasu was right.
– approved an agreement between DEKALB County Government and DCSDS school nutrition services (SNS) in order to act as a provider of the 2025 summer feeding program.
– Renewed a contract of 2 million US dollars for the liquid propaneous release service after Ferrellgas. This is the third of four potential extensions of the contract.
-Approved 500,000 US dollars for the use of a cooperative agreement with Playpower Inc. for Playground equestrian repairs, exchange and installation services outdoors.
– A relief scholarship for the city of Tucker approved for the expansion and improvements of the streets and improvements at the intersection of Sarr Parkway and the Idlewood Road at the Stone Mountain Middle School location.
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