The architect working on Lawrence's new elementary school says design revisions haven't devastated the building's quality.
Students at Lawrence's new elementary school may not be able to salute the flag upon arrival for classes next August.
Architect David Dunfield said the $953 metal pole was cut, along with $350,000 in trees, fences, skylights, sidewalks, bricks and classroom furniture to bring the school construction project near a revised budget of $6.7 million.
"We've been unable to find a requirement for a flagpole," Dunfield said.
In regards to the revisions, he added: "We feel they're not devastating to the overall project. We'll still have a fine facility when this is all done."
The school board made certain, in a special meeting Tuesday morning, that students and staff at the unnamed elementary on West 15th Street will have plumbing, heating, air conditioning and electrical service.
On a 7-0 vote, the board approved a $1.15 million contract with Huxtable & Associates of Lawrence for heating, air conditioning and plumbing work at the school and a $535,000 contract with Current Electric Co. of Topeka for electrical work. Remaining contracts are expected to be voted on Sept. 27 by the board.
The school's overall budget for the new school stands at $6.7 million, but costs could escalate as the building progresses and is outfitted for classes. It's scheduled to open in August 2000.
Board member Jack Davidson said he was worried design alterations might undermine the structure's durability. Lower grade doors, roofing, flooring, ceiling and wall materials were chosen to slash expenditures.
"I'm concerned there are things -- flagpole aside -- that will reduce the longevity of the building," he said.
Austin Turney, a board member who served last week on a committee that helped select design changes, said the result amounted to "acceptable, not pleasant, business decisions."
Board member Sue Morgan said district staff had done well to clarify for the board the budgets of five major projects tied to a $16.6 million bond issue adopted by district voters in November 1998.
But she said she remained concerned that taxpayers weren't properly informed about the $500,000 in bond interest earned by the district and that one-time payments of $650,000 from the state for opening new classrooms would be used to brace project budgets linked to the bond issue.
She said terms used to describe budget actions were sometimes misleading. For instance, she said, district staff presented as a budget "cut" the move to delay for one year acquisition of $100,000 in furniture for the new elementary.
"It can get to look like a shell game," Morgan said.
-- Tim Carpenter's phone message number is 832-7155. His e-mail address is tcarpenter@ljworld.com.
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