In all likelihood, there won’t be any stage performances at Bellwood-Antis High/Middle School in 2003-04.
Last evening, the district’s board of directors voted unanimously to approve a cost estimate and preliminary project plan for nearly $1.3 million in renovations to the 46-year-old auditorium facility.
“We’re now going to move into the preliminary phase of planning with hopes that we’ll be ready in May or June and construction will begin at the end of the summer,” said district Superintendent Rodney Kuhns.
With the project beginning most likely in late August or early September, Kuhns said he doubts the stage will be ready for performances anytime during the upcoming academic year. He said the district would not look elsewhere for places to hold such performances.
“At this point, I think with the scheduling and the problems we’re going to have, it will probably be very difficult to plan anything,” said Kuhns.
In January, school board members learned the cost of renovating the auditorium had doubled since estimates were discussed in November. During the January meeting, Rick Witt, the district’s architect from L.R. Kimball & Associates Inc., informed the board that after members walked through the auditorium and learned of the improvements needed, the project costs jumped from $554,242.50 to well over $1 million.
Last evening, school board members agreed to set preliminary project costs at $1,214,978.15.
“This budget, of course, will be tentative,” said Kuhns. “I would hope that it’s finished under budget, but there are so many things we have to put a price on now to get the project going, that may change when it comes time to begin the project.”
According to Witt, changes to that preliminary plan included adding new doors at the rear of the facility, adding new technology to both the stage and auditorium areas, removal of asbestos from the stage and new construction and developing layout plans for general lighting and sound.
Board members said the auditorium is also in need of a new rigging system. The current system was designed and built in the 1930s and is a fixture in the building. Officials hope a new, mobile rigging fixture would allow stage crews to change stage lighting and hanging props without the use of a ladder.
The project is being funded through money secured from a $2 million bond that was floated in 2002. Kuhns noted the large expenditure does not affect local tax payers because the bond was acquired at such a low-interest rate.
Also, the board approved a second preliminary expenditure of $136,108 to buy additional equipment associated with the project. This equipment will include lights, a new sound system, etc.
“Mr. (Dick) Bower, our choral director, and our consultant Phil Ray will be preparing the specs for the other equipment that we feel we need to install,” said Kuhns.
Kuhns also noted this $136,108 will not be figured into the architect’s contract.
“His fee will only be applied to the $1,214,978.15 that was approved by the board,” said Kuhns.
