Wilson Middle School estimates are through the roof

By Harold Gwin

YOUNGSTOWN — The final engineering estimates are in for the proposed new Wilson Middle School, and they aren’t good.

The construction bids for the new building are expected to come in at just over $12.3 million, some $3.2 million higher than the original 2004 estimate, according to Heery International Inc., project manager for the school district’s rebuilding program.

Wilson is one of 14 buildings being replaced or renovated in a $180 million to $190 million effort stretching over a half dozen years. The Ohio School Facilities Commission is picking up about 80 percent of that cost.

The school board approved the construction documents last week, agreeing to put the project out for bid.

Bids are to be opened July 29, and the new 66,568-square foot building, designed to house 350 pupils, is slated to open sometime in fall 2009. It will be built on Gibson Street, the site of the former Wilson High School.

Dr. Wendy Webb, superintendent, said Wilson will be the home of the district’s gender schools, which are now in separate buildings. Alpha: School of Excellence for Boys and Athena: School of Excellence for Girls will occupy separate ends of the new building, maintaining the gender separation for the seventh- and eighth-graders in those schools, she said.

Steve Ludwinski, Heery senior project manager, told the board that material and fuel costs have escalated since the 2004 project estimate was done, driving the cost of construction higher.

School officials said other factors raising the price include the board deciding to add some 2,000 square feet of common gathering space and changing some roofs from flat to sloped surfaces. Those are items the OSFC won’t pay for and the district will have to cover out of its local construction fund.

Read the full story Monday in The Vindicator and on Vindy.com.