School is likely to cost more to build

Inflation is being blamed for the change in projected costs for the new school.

By HAROLD GWIN

VINDICATOR EDUCATION WRITER

YOUNGSTOWN — The proposed Wilson Middle School will probably come with a substantially higher price tag than anticipated.

The project, originally based on 2004 costs, had a price estimate of just under $10.6 million, Steven Ludwinski, senior project manager for Heery International, told the city school board this week.

The project, however, won’t get started until next year, and inflation is expected to drive the cost for the 66,568-square-foot building to just over $13 million, according to Heery estimates, he said.

Heery is the district’s building program manager.

The school is one of 14 in a $182 million districtwide rebuilding program and will replace Woodrow Wilson High School at the same location at Gibson Street and Indianola Avenue.

The high school closed this year, with half of its students being sent to the new East High School and half to the remodeled and expanded Chaney High School.

The Rev. Michael Write, school board president, said the district has been talking to the Ohio School Facilities Commission about the likelihood of the new middle school exceeding earlier cost estimates.

The state has agreed to pick up 80 percent of eligible construction costs on all 14 buildings in the program, and it is hoped the state will step up to compensate for the inflation, The Rev. Mr. Write said.

Ludwinski said OSFC is well aware of the situation and has indicated that the project expense will still be covered with an 80-20 split, despite inflation.

Plans approved

Ricciuti Balog & Partners Architects, designers of the new school, presented the school board with schematic design documents for the structure this week, gaining approval from the board to proceed with final design plans.

The tentative project schedule calls for construction to begin in the spring after Wilson High School is demolished. The new building is to open in fall 2009.

The design shows the new school as a one-floor structure that can house about 350 pupils and provide dedicated space for special needs children.

It is also laid out so that, should the school population expand, an addition can be put on the north end of the building at a later date, adding between four and six classrooms.

A historical mural saved from the high school will be installed in the cafeteria/commons area of the new building.

The project also shows a $500,000 set-aside for what is called locally funded initiatives. LFIs are items that the school board wants but the state considers nonessential and won’t include in its construction budget.

Ludwinski said the Wilson Middle School LFIs involve using pitched roofs, rather than flat roofs, where applicable. It’s something the school board wants to consider, he said.

gwin@vindy.com