The first phase of Blair Oaks R-2 school district’s new high school could be ready for teachers and staff to move into as soon as June 1, 2021.
The district’s Board of Education heard an update on the new high school project Tuesday night from The Architects Alliance’s Principal Architect Cary Gampher, Project Manager Leslie Backstrom, Project Manager and Drafting Technician Michelle Girard and Office Administrator Julia Gampher.
Blair Oaks voters approved a $14 million bond issue and an operating levy increase in last week’s municipal election to pay for building the first phase of a new high school for the district and hiring the necessary new staff. The total cost of building both phases of the building is projected to be $19 million.
Cary Gampher said bids for the first phase could be received before or after the winter holidays in the coming 2019-20 school year.
If bids are received in the middle of January, he said the first earthmovers could be on site across Falcon Lane from the current Blair Oaks Middle School by the end of January 2020 or beginning of February.
He said groundbreaking would be Feb. 1, 2020, at the latest.
A draft schedule shows 16 months of construction starting in February and includes potential delays for weather, he said.
Blair Oaks Superintendent Jim Jones said the district will be advertising in the near future on how local investors can buy bonds for the project.
After last week’s election, Blair Oaks Board of Education leadership did not change Tuesday: Peggy Luebbert is president; John Weber is vice president; Nicki Russell is treasurer; and Sheila Reinsch is secretary.
New members Dale Verslues and Tim Luebbering sat on the school board for the first time Tuesday night after last week’s election.