NILES SCHOOLS Board OKs building plans

The school district is paying $5.88 million of the $14 million project.
By DENISE DICK
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
NILES -- A new middle school project has taken another step toward reality.
The board approved the latest design documents for the project. The plans were submitted by URS Construction Services of Pittsburgh at a meeting Thursday.
Total project cost is just over $14 million. The school district sold bonds to borrow $5.88 million for the local contribution. Voters passed a bond issue in 1999 to fund the local share. A grant from the Ohio School Facilities Commission will pay for the rest.
Christopher L. Niemann, project manager for URS, said the project is proceeding on schedule. The estimated cost includes a $550,099, or 5 percent, construction contingency. Any unforeseen costs over that amount that may arise would be paid by the state, with the school district kicking in a local match, he said.
Board members also authorized the district administration to advertise for bids for site work, such as clearing the property, on the new school. That work is estimated at $1.1 million.
The building is expected to be completed in fall 2002.
"We can advertise for bids for site work and we're on our way," said Superintendent Patrick Guliano.
Concerns: Some community members have expressed concern about the new school's being built in a wetlands area, but Guliano said the state, architects and construction manager have all approved the Brynhyfryd Park site.
"We've thoroughly researched the matter and these concerns, and we are moving forward and we are going to build this school," he said.
The new 93,000-square-foot school building will replace the 87-year-old Edison Junior High School on Church Street. The $14 million project budget detailed by the Pittsburgh company includes $544,800 for the demolition of Edison.
"It would be my recommendation to demolish it after we move into the new building," Guliano said.
Guliano said representatives from the Ohio School Facilities Commission will visit all of the district buildings except Edison next week to determine if the district may receive more state funding to fix other schools.