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Simmons Drawings Get OK'D

Posted on: Wednesday, 9 November 2005, 00:00 CST

By Russ Keen, American News, Aberdeen, S.D.

Nov. 8--Architects got an official go-ahead on Monday night to develop drawings for a 35,000-square-foot addition to Simmons Middle School.

The Aberdeen school board voted 7-0 to proceed with the drawings, which will include incorporating the district's administrative offices into the Simmons complex. Two weeks ago, the board reached consensus to proceed with drawings; the Monday vote makes it official.

The board also reviewed a proposed $6.1 million budget for the project, which includes demolition of the original school built in 1929. The budget breaks down as follows:

-- $4.7 million for the addition and renovation of other areas that will still be used for education. The addition includes classrooms and a cafeteria/commons. This money also covers razing the 1929 wing.

The $4.7 million is the amount originally projected for the actual work on the portion of the school/addition used for education. There are other costs:

-- $505,000 for converting the 1959 wing into administrative offices.

-- $380,000 for professional fees.

-- $365,000 in contingency to cover the unexpected.

-- $150,000 for site work and parking on the area demolished, and to repair where the demolished portion was attached to the rest of the complex.

All work is expected to be done next year, with most occurring during summer when school is out. The board met in special session Monday to keep the project rolling in a timely manner. Bids must be advertised and awarded early in 2006 to allow for construction to begin in late spring.

The board also reviewed options for financing the project, all of which involve issuing capital outlay certificates and raising the capital outlay levy to pay off the certificates. The project does not involve enough money to require a public vote.

The levy is currently at $2.50 per $1,000 of assessed value. The state allows a maximum capital outlay levy of $3 per $1,000.

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Copyright (c) 2005, American News, Aberdeen, S.D.

Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.

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Source: American News (Aberdeen, S.D.)

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