Architect says $3.5 M will fix ECHS science building woes
By BRENDA SOMMER bsommer@leader-news.com

It appears El Campo ISD has enough money saved to go forward with major renovations to its high school science building, and if all goes as planned, construction could begin by February.

Malcolm Gaus of RWS Architects, Inc. presented the board with a schematic design for renovations last Tuesday.  The two-story building is not in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, doesn't have enough classrooms and laboratories, and has its boys and girls bathrooms on separate floors.

RWS estimates it would cost $3.5 million to renovate the building, bringing the facility up to modern building code standards, adding ADA features such as an elevator and boys and girls ADA-compliant bathrooms on both floors, and adding two classroom/labs where the greenhouse and large satellite dish are now located.

That cost, however, does not include professional fees or furnishings, which could add almost $1 million to the cost.Gaus will now work up specifications for a request for proposals to builders which should be ready for the board's November meeting, with proposals ranked and ready for adoption by trustees' December meeting.

Students would be moved to temporary buildings beginning the second semester. Contractors would be on campus by January, with construction starting by Feb. 1, if all goes according to plans.

The project will add two additional classroom/laboratories to the building, for a total of 10. Construction would be completed by Dec. 31, 2008.

El Campo Superintendent Mark Pool estimates it will cost around $5.7 million or more for the track/turf project on the high school campus and major upgrades and expansion of the high school science building, the two top repair priorities of the board. That estimate includes all associated costs.

He said between fund balance money and cash set aside to cover unexpected overages at the new middle school construction project, the district might have enough money to do both projects soon.

"It depends on how we come out on the middle school," he said. "Right now, we're under budget. If we can keep it under budget, that's another $1.8 million that will be available (that we) set aside out of fund balance."

The two are part of $15 million in improvements the district has identified and prioritized in recent months.