BISD trustees approve building bid

During a specially called meeting Monday night, the Brownboro ISD school board met to discuss bids for the construction of a vocational building and the renovation of current shops and vocational classrooms.

After consulting with representatives from WRL General Contractors, of Flint, the board approved their bid for $2,922,612 to build the 20,067 sq. ft. facility, and remodel 7,940 sq. ft. of several of the high school's shops and classrooms that will be vacated once the new building is complete.

"We've been thinking about this for awhile," said BISD superintendent Elton Caldwell. "We've finally got our fund balance where we want it. When we get through with this it will be paid for without any interest charges. We're not going to jack up our taxes to pay for it."

The new facility will be built on the old Ag greenhouse site between the high school and the elementary school at the southern end of the high school band's practice field. Eleven new classrooms and three shops will serve the Ag and Industrial/ Business Technology classes.

"I got out there and did my magic stepping off to make sure it didn't ruin the band field," Caldwell said.

The newly remodeled classrooms in the high school will allow for larger fully equipped science labs and lecture space, eliminate the four portable classrooms, and provide permanent classrooms for four floating teachers.

"It's the renovation I'm excited about," said BISD assistant superintendent Vicki York. "We've got to have those science labs."

According to state law, ninth grade students entering high school in 2007 will be required to take four years of science. The high school currently

houses two science labs, but will need four to accommodate the demand.

Time line on the vocational building is to start shop drawings, and break ground after the holidays. Completion of the new building may be as early as late summer-mid fall 2007.