Niles school board hires architects

By Jordan Cohen

NILES — The board of education has chosen Balog, Steines, Hendricks and Manchester of Youngstown as its architectural firm to design the district’s new high school and two elementary schools.

Balog, Steines was selected from a field of five bidders but was not the first choice, according to Rocco Adduci, schools superintendent.

“We were unable to come to an agreement on percentage with the first firm but are very satisfied with the percentage we’ve negotiated,” he said. The architects will be paid 6.1 percent of the costs of the buildings, he added.

“All five were close in percentage, but under Ohio law, we were required to negotiate with our second choice [Balog, Steines] when we couldn’t reach an agreement with the first firm,” Adduci said.

Voters last November approved a bond issue of more than $18 million dollars — the school’s share of the $60 million estimated cost of the three buildings.

Adduci said, however, the state has determined that enrollment in Niles schools has fallen by 300 students, meaning the local and state costs will be less and the new buildings will be slightly smaller than expected.

“Because of that finding, our local share has dropped to approximately $16.2 million,” he said.

The board also approved an agreement with the Ohio School Facilities Commission, which is paying for the balance of the project.