District officials say cutting $400,000 from the construction cost of Lawrence's new elementary school isn't expected to undermine its educational programs.
Amending construction plans for Lawrence's new elementary school might bring the project within a revised $6.7 million budget, district officials said Thursday.
"I think we accomplished that," said Jim Freeman, executive director of business.
Lawrence voters passed a $16.6 million bond issue last year that allowed for construction of a new elementary on West 15th Street to accommodate growth in residential housing.
The original budget estimate for the school was $6.4 million. Construction bids put the cost at $7.1 million. District staff sliced $400,000 to bring it in line with the current $6.7 million budget, Freeman said.
Supt. Kathleen Williams said cost-cutting modifications to the interior design of the unnamed elementary school included selection of lower quality tile and carpet. Other changes: Elimination of storage shelving and substitution of light fixtures.
The option of installing cheaper, less energy-efficient windows was discarded.
In terms of the new school's exterior, a portion of the landscaping will be postponed. The original idea was to cover outside walls with four colors of brick arranged in decorative patterns. The new plan calls for two colors and less distinctive brick work.
"It will probably make the building look more institutional -- plainer," Williams said.
Although the school won't be completed in August 2000 as intended, Freeman said the district expects to conduct classes there next fall.
Freeman said the board would conduct a meeting Tuesday morning to consider contracts for mechanical, electrical and plumbing bids for the new building.
Board members voted in August to approve the purchase of $590,000 in structural steel for the school. The lone dissenting vote was cast by Scott Morgan.
The Lawrence school board will be briefed Monday night on all construction projects related to the bond issue. That includes a review of the district's pending acquisition of a $4.1 million structure at 110 McDonald Dr. for use as an administration headquarters and warehouse facility.
Projects tied to the bond issue were estimated to be nearly $3 million over budget in August.
-- Tim Carpenter's phone message number is 832-7155. His e-mail address is tcarpenter@ljworld.com.
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