March 7, 2012
03/08/12 During a meeting on March 6, the Plymouth School Board got an update on the interior design of the School of Inquiry that is scheduled to open at the start of the 2012-2013 school year.
Presenting a computer-based virtual trip throughout the space was Brain Bohlender of Barton, Coe, Vilamaa, Architects, Engineers.
Bohlender said,” The first floor will include offices for the director and guidance councilor, lobby area, and two spaces to accommodate up to 50 students each. Across the hallway from the larger areas, plans are to have rooms where 10-20 students can meet as break-a-way rooms. Between the two classrooms, Bohlender said there will be a flexible space that will eventually be used according to what type of furniture is installed.
Stairs and an elevator will lead up to the second floor. The plans include four classrooms and a common space. Bohlender said the bleachers in the area that now houses the pool will be integrated into the overall design.
He said, “We tried to go for the best clean, minimal look that we could.”
The School of Inquiry will start with 100 freshman the first year and add an additional 100 each year until the total reaches 400. According to Ken Olson, who will be heading up the new school, they already have 93 potential students enrolled.”
Bohlender said they have scheduled the bid printouts for the project for March 29. The printouts will be in a digital distribution, according to Bohlender.
They anticipate receiving bids by April, 26 and presenting them for board approval at the May 1 board meeting.
Assistant Superintendent Rodger Smith said they received two bids for the demolition portions of the plans for the areas that will house the School of Inquiry. He said that the received the two bids, were notified that two others were declining to bid and one additional contractor joined forces with one of the bidders. He said the low bid was from Jackson Services for $115,000. Smith said Jackson Services has been a sub-contractor for other companies on several projects in the past within the corporation. According to Superintendent Daniel Tyree, much of the demolition is scheduled during spring break when students and teachers are out of school.
Carol Anders Correspondent