The Christian County School Board got a look at what the bids for the consolidated high school look like at a Board Retreat Tuesday morning.
Overall, there are about 29 individual bid packets for the board to consider in the coming weeks, and that in total comes up to approximately $109 million—that does not include “soft” costs, such as computers, desks, kitchen equipment, technology, furnishings and other miscellaneous items. Factoring in those costs, along with a mandatory contingency fund, it is expected that the total cost of the project and construction could end up being around $135 million.
The board must still approve the individual bids—which will likely take place at a board meeting on August 15—and that could potentially change the initial costs, but Superintendent Chris Bentzel says he doesn’t expect that to break $112 million. Bentzel also reiterated that he remains committed to no new taxes or increases for this project.
Tim Geegan with Alliance Corporation, the construction managers for this project, told the board they’re currently in the process of speaking with the individual bidders and reviewing their bids.
Geegan called the bulk of contractors that have bid on the project legitimate and that in his recommendation, this is the project moving forward. He says this has been an extensive project, especially in finding ways to save on costs.
Because of the favorable bids, the project includes two gymnasiums in phase one, including the main competition gym and a vaulted skylight in the cafeteria. Phase two sometime in the future would include a performing arts center and outdoor athletic fields.
If the bids are approved at the August 15 meeting, then from there, Superintendent Bentzel says the plan is to sign contracts and move forward with the project, with the goal of breaking ground on the Hopkinsville-Christian County Academy by the first of September.
The facility that could hold between 2,500 to 2,900 students, would be located off of U.S. 41 and Lovers Lane, near the satellite campus of Murray State University. The project opening date would be September of 2026, with the tentative plan to have athletic facilities and sport fields ready to go by that same time frame.