Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
Plans move ahead at the Colfax School District this week after the $18.9 million facilities bond that garnered 73 percent voter approval.
The high margin was noted by many supporters, including a building committee which worked for 13 months preparing the measure.
“To receive such public approval on such an important issue for us, we’re just thrilled,” said Superintendent Jerry Pugh.
A meeting Friday, Feb. 23, at Pugh’s office will include district consultant Dax Logsdon and architect Ned Warnick, who was hired last year to create preliminary plans for the proposed work. The project will include re-roofing the high school and elementary schools, asbestos removal, HVAC work, security upgrades, classroom renovation, changes to the district’s auditorium at the high school and other projects.
First order of business for the Friday meeting will be to discuss how to adjust the school calendar for the next two years to allow for more construction time in the summer. This will be done by reducing the lengths of Christmas break, the President’s Day break and other places to condense the school year.
The group will also start the process to set a priority list. Pugh will confer with teachers to also determine the specifics of what will be done to each classroom.
“We painted with a broad stroke,” said Pugh of the initial plans. “We haven’t broken it down into, okay, here’s the details.”
Once decided, Pugh and the district will aim to reach a cost-per square footage per classroom. From there they can decide what work will happen and when.
Pugh indicated that no work is expected to be done this summer. He is already in communication with Piper Jaffray, which will sell the district’s bonds.
Logsdon comes from Construction Service Group, Education Service District 112 in the Tri-Cities.
Warnick is a principal with Design West Architects in Pullman. He will likely be joined by others in the firm as the Colfax bond projects get underway.
Garth Meyer is a former Whitman County Gazette reporter.
Reader Comments(0)