WARREN SCHOOLS Officials start evaluating architects for project
The district wants to be ready when the money becomes available.
By DENISE DICK
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- School officials hope to know within the next several weeks what architectural firm will be on board with the district's building plan.
School board members, district officials and the public heard a presentation last week from Sear-Brown Architectural Design Professionals, the first of four architectural firms slated for interviews.
Sear-Brown has offices around the country, including in Cleveland.
The district has been in line for more than a year to receive $100 million from the state for a building project. The remainder of the money needed would have to come from local sources such as a bond issue.
School officials don't know when the money will come through, but they want to be prepared, with a plan in place, when it does.
Fourteen architectural firms submitted proposals to the board's facilities committee. The committee includes district business manager James Russo and board members Linda Metzendorf and Nick Frankos Sr.
Narrowed to four
Russo said the panel reviewed the proposals and narrowed the list to four evaluating the credentials and experience.
"One of the items we were looking for was previous OSFC [Ohio School Facilities Commission] experience because of the size of our project," Russo said.
"Another was whether they have the staff to deal with a project of such a large size," he said.
The panel also considered whether the firms were local or willing to work with local firms on the project.
Interviews are set for Ricciuti Balog & amp; Partners and Hanahan-Strollo & amp; Associates Inc., both of Youngstown, for Dec. 4. Fanning/Howey of Columbus will be interviewed by the school board Dec. 5.
OSFC has recommended a plan to build eight elementary schools, two middle schools and a high school and to renovate Western Reserve Middle School.
The district, which includes Warren G. Harding High School, three middle schools and 12 elementaries, proposed an alternative plan earlier this year that OSFC also approved.
The district's plan proposes a new high school and three new kindergarten-through-eighth-grade buildings in three quadrants of the city.
In the fourth quadrant, Reserve would be renovated and used as a kindergarten-through-eighth-grade building.
Limited space
The school district was concerned about space problems under the state's plan for elementary schools.
The district might have to raze the elementary buildings and rebuild in the same places because of a lack of land, presenting a problem of where to house the pupils in the meantime.
The district's four-quadrant plan eliminates the space concern.
Having an architect on board would also enable the district to have a better idea of costs involved so officials can take the ideas to the community to see what the public wants and is willing to pay for.
The state says schools will be replaced if the cost of renovation exceeds by two-thirds the cost of new construction.
Russo hopes a firm is selected shortly after interviews are completed.
He said the board will rate the architectural firms based on the interviews and presentations and negotiate with the top firm to determine if a cost for services can be agreed upon. If negotiations with the top firm doesn't result in an agreement, the board will move to the second one on the list, he said.
dick@vindy.com