Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
The Colfax School Board took another step toward bond construction Monday night, approving design schematics for the junior-senior high school presented by district architect Ned Warnick.
The approval for the designation-of-space drawings will now send Warnick and Superintendent Jerry Pugh to the stage of design development, to fill in items such as placement of doors and windows.
From there, the process will go on to construction documents, or what was once known as blueprints. Pugh and Warnick will aim for approvals from the school board along the way to allow the district to go out to bid in January of next year, for what is expected to be two years of construction.
Showing a layout on the pull-down screen at the district office Monday, Warnick pointed out where each feature will be of the revised Colfax Junior/Senior High School building.
“These are big decisions about how space will be arranged,” said Warnick.
Some of the changes include moving the ASB room next to the concessions area by the gym, adding a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) laboratory on the first floor and extending the mezzanine level of the gym along one wall behind a basket, at which a handicapped lift will connect. Along the new mezzanine will be weight equipment against the wall, with the wrestling area remaining in the same spot.
The counselors’ office will move to the second floor, to separate it from the administrative offices.
“People don’t want to go to the counselor and feel like they’re in trouble,” Warnick said.
Also in the layout, classrooms throughout the building are a more standardized size and a new block of science classrooms will be by the library on the second floor.
Outside the building, the parking area on the north end of the high school will double, with an expanded area for the bus landing.
At Jennings Elementary, increased parking spots will be created in the same geographical area in front of the school.
“A 15 to 20 percent increase,” Warnick said.
Divided loading zones will be set at Jennings as well.
In total, Warnick estimates construction to come in at a cost of $13.1 million, with site work and hazmat (hazardous materials removal) to take up the remaining $5 million or so of the bond funds. One such item which may or may not happen, depending on how dollars hold out, is new lights for the football field.
Discussion amongst the board followed about parking. Board president David Nails asked if more parking could be developed near the new restrooms across from Schumuck Park, by the bus garage.
“You have a really generous bus area,” said Warnick.
He went on to say that more spots may be developed behind the school.
Board member Brian Becker asked about the designated STEAM laboratory, whether it was big enough.
Discussion followed with Warnick and Pugh saying the room will likely be bigger and the maintenance/janitor area next to it smaller.
“It’s not going to be that big,” Pugh said of the maintenance/janitor area.
“Our goals is to avoid having to build a pole building,” said Warnick, referring to keeping enough space for maintenance to use without needing another building.
Warnick concluded with a mention of the courtyard at the high school – an assignment given to junior high students earlier this year to offer ideas to improve it.
“I’m about ready to hire some of your seventh and eighth-graders,” Warnick said, noting he will incorporate their ideas, which the students will get to see built before they graduate from high school.
At the end of the discussion, board member Robert Smith made a motion to approve the schematics. with a second from Becker. All board members approved.
“Now we’re going to start drilling into detail,” said Pugh.
Garth Meyer is a former Whitman County Gazette reporter.
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