AHSTW Facility Update

AHSTW Community School District

Facility Update

In November of 2021, the communities of Avoca, Hancock, Shelby, Tennant, and Walnut approved a $12.9 million dollar referendum to improve our K-12 school facilities.  The referendum was developed to complete a renovation of our existing high school, improve lighting throughout our K-12 facility, and to create a new section of classrooms for our Career and Technical classes.  The future addition of classrooms to the high school would then allow us to create more classroom space across our facility, including our elementary section.  I am sure this feels like a long time ago, but behind the scenes many activities have been happening to move our project closer to reality.

 

I hope the following descriptions provide you with some insights into those activities.

 

AHSTW Facility Activities: 

-       Schematic Design Meetings:  [3 meetings:  January – March]

o   The purpose of the Schematic Design Meetings with SitelogIQ were to ensure the project resolved the identified areas of need determined by the site review and conversations prior to the referendum.

o   Three meetings were held to discuss overall building space and functionality, promote a safe environment for students, educators, and visitors, update our current mechanical systems, move our HVAC units to one control system with individual thermostats in each classroom, and to create a quality experience for students now and into the future.

-       Design & Development Meetings [4 meetings:  April – July]

o   The Design Development Phase of our meetings helped us further define each individual area of the new construction and areas to be renovated.

o   Topics discussed in these meetings involved:  Scope of Projects, mechanical systems, floor coverings, colors, design of areas, ceiling replacements, choice of casework, and further develop pathways to exterior exits.

o   Individual meetings were held with classroom teachers within our Career and Technology courses to gather their input in regards to their needs in the new classrooms.

-       Construction Documents [2 meetings:  August – September]

o   The upcoming Construction Documentation phase will provide us an opportunity to complete a detailed review the project and finalize our needs for outlets, internet drops, selection of furniture, as well as completing a page turn of the entire set of plans.

-       Bidding Process: [Late October – December]

o   AHSTW Community School District and SitelogIQ plan to advertise the project blueprints for bid in late October to early November of 2022.

o   The goal will then be to establish a let date in December.

o   The dates described above are flexible at this time, but will become more defined as we move through the development of the construction documents.

-       Project Start Date:

o   Our goal is to start the project as early as the spring will allow!

 

We are extremely excited for this project as it will certainly enhance our building and opportunities for our AHSTW family!  Keep watching for future updates and potential renderings of the updated facility!

Respectfully,

Mr. Darin Jones

Superintendent