General contractor Ferguson Construction is working with Mike Huff of Ruetschle Architects on the facility with an original budget of around $44.6 million. The current tab is running close to $39 million.
The cold, snowy winter has made some work more difficult, but contractors had good fall and summer weather and are hoping for a weather break, Klein said.
The two-story building is taking shape with brick and large windows installed on the western portion, which will house the high school.
The windows will help with the natural light element of the building, which will feature a number of green applications. Among them are a wind turbine, solar thermal system and a rainwater harvester. The energy efficiency efforts will be incorporated into an energy awareness and education program for students and the community.
“We’re really excited. To be out there with Lowry woods, it is absolutely gorgeous,” said Superintendent Ginny Rammel.
“This is totally a community effort. People really rallied to get it (earned income tax for the project) passed. It shows you the pride in the community.”
The 1.25 percent earned income tax passed by district voters in 2008 is not quite collecting 100 percent of what was estimated. However, there are sufficient funds for payments, Klein said, adding, “We’re going to be fine.”
The Ohio School Facilities Commission is paying 56 percent of the project bill; the local earned income tax the balance.
The earned income tax paid by those who are working turned out to be a good funding choice, particularly with the struggling economy the past couple of years, Klein said.
While contractors work daily at the Lowry Field site, district officials are making preparations for the move, even though it is more than a year away.
Rammel said a furniture fair held recently gave staff a look at options for desks, chairs and computer tables among other items. “We are telling staff to start looking at what they don’t want to take, things they haven’t used for a long time,” Rammel said. Smart boards now used in every classroom will make the move to the new facility, as will clocks and other reusable items.
Officials also are looking into the future of the existing buildings.
The high school is more than 70 years old, the middle school, more than 45 years old and the elementary more than 50 years old.
Klein said Rammel has been out looking for possible users of buildings. “Currently, that is our focus,” Rammel said.
Unless someone shows interest in the elementary-middle school, it likely will come down, Klein said. A commercial appraiser is conducting a feasibility study for the high school building.
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