Second in a series.
Re: “The Science of Whether to Build New Labs”
With the school improvements bond providing the School District with $106 million to play with the next 12 years, a decision is being studied regarding science labs and classrooms for Culver City High School and the Middle School.
Eventually, the School Board will be presented three choices:
- Endorsing a revolutionary method where half of construction is done away from the campuses,
- A thrifty option that calls for mere “modernization” of present classrooms, and
- Approving construction the old-fashioned way, built entirely on-site,
Asst. Supt. Mike Reynolds said cost of the first way, the revolutionary option, half off-site, “probably would be in the neighborhood of $17 million.”
He said that was the only option that the School District has priced to date.
“It probably is too early to project the costs of what a traditional building with similar labs would be,” Mr. Reynolds said. “That would be part of our due diligence.”
Construction costs for upgrading the half-century-old Robert Frost Auditorium presently are pegged at $7.5 million.
“Rough estimates at this point,” said Mr. Reynolds, “because we have not bid them out.”
What role will comparative costs play in the School Board’s decision-making?
“Our bond sales are scheduled to occur at certain times,” said the assistant superintendent. “So we have to live within those. However, we can perhaps adjust those bond sales to occur more quickly.”
