Final stadium construction cost slightly over budget

Janelle Jessen/Siloam Sunday Superintendent Ken Ramey presented curriculum coordinator Connie Matchell with a retirement gift. The school district held a reception honoring Matchell and retiring band director Keith Rutledge for their service before the School Board meeting on Tuesday. Matchell has accepted a position as the head of the Department of Teacher Education at John Brown University starting in July.
Janelle Jessen/Siloam Sunday Superintendent Ken Ramey presented curriculum coordinator Connie Matchell with a retirement gift. The school district held a reception honoring Matchell and retiring band director Keith Rutledge for their service before the School Board meeting on Tuesday. Matchell has accepted a position as the head of the Department of Teacher Education at John Brown University starting in July.

The final construction cost for Panther Stadium was over budget by approximately 1 percent of the project total, or $61,131, assistant superintendent Jody Wiggins reported at Tuesday's School Board meeting.

The stadium was projected to cost $5,801,829 but final expenses totaled $5,862,960. Construction on the stadium is complete and "pretty much everything has been paid for," Wiggins said.

The stadium was built around the practice field at the high school. It seats nearly 4,000 people and includes a state-of-the art press box and concession stand.

The only part of the facility that isn't complete is the archway over the front gate, which will be paid for out of the athletic budget, Wiggins said.

"One percent on a project that size is not bad," said board member Roger Holroyd.

Costs for the city's cement and dirt work were $99,730 over budget and costs for furniture, fixtures and equipment were $12,527 over budget. The overages were offset by $51,124 in savings from the projected costs of the scoreboard, cabling, heating and air system, sound system and architect fees.

Wiggins explained the cost of the city work was more than expected because the scope of their project increased and took longer than originally planned.

"The important thing is we have a quality facility," said board member Louie Thomas.

In other business, Scott Wuerdeman, project manager for Crossland Construction, presented a six-page time line for the construction of the 10,000-square-foot Career Academy of Siloam Springs facility.

CASS is a charter school within Siloam Springs High School that will teach manufacturing trade skills such as industrial maintenance, welding, hydraulics and electronics. It will equip students for entry-level industrial technology positions, trade school or a four-year college. Classes are set to begin in the fall.

A special board meeting was held May 7 to approve a guaranteed maximum price of $1,416,116 for the construction of the building. Dirt work began on May 11. A formal ground-breaking ceremony for the building will be held at 4:15 p.m. May 29, Wiggins said.

If weather permits, the building should be complete before school begins in August, Wuerdeman said. Because of the special board meeting, construction began a week earlier than anticipated, but already four and a half days have been lost due to rain, he said.

Wiggins said the school has a contingency plan in place in case construction is not complete and teachers and students aren't able to move into the facility for the first few weeks of school.

The school board took the following additional actions:

• Approved the renewal of an agreement with Northwest Arkansas Community College for concurrent high school and college classes.

• Approved school board policies for the 2015-2016 school year.

• Hired nine licensed staff members for the 2015-2016 school year.

• Approved emergency sick leave for one employee.

• Approved adding a part-time special education teaching position at the middle School.

• Approved the transfer of one child from the Gentry School District to the Siloam Springs School District.

• Approved the transfer of two children from the Siloam Springs School District to the Gentry School District.

A special School Board meeting will be held at 5 p.m. May 28 in superintendent Ken Ramey's office to continue hiring teachers and staff for the 2015-2016 school year.

General News on 05/24/2015