ESTIMATES FOR NEW CITY HIGH SCHOOL SOAR

Cost estimates for building a new high school in the Cape Girardeau School District are considerably higher than anticipated, and the Board of Education isn't sure when voters will be asked to approve the second phase of the district's construction and renovation program that began in 1997.

Two weeks ago, the school board received initial cost estimates from Sverdrup CRSS of St. Louis, the company the board hired to make a cost analysis of the design and construction of a new high school complex.

At that time, Sverdrup, one of the largest builders of public schools in the nation, presented three estimates ranging from $30.7 million to $47.4 million for the total project, or an average of $165 per square foot, well above national averages of $106 per square foot for school construction.

On Wednesday, Sverdrup revised its estimate, saying it could build a scaled-back version of the high school for $25.1 million, or $108 to $112 per square foot. Sverdrup representatives told the Board of Education its revised estimates were based, in part, on the $94-per-square-foot cost of the district's vocational career center, which is being built on a site near Interstate 55 in southern Cape Girardeau. The proposed high school would be on the same property.

Board members generally expressed dismay over the cost estimates, which are well over the original $16 million estimate presented to voters two years ago and the $18 million revised estimate that was developed earlier this year.

"I can't imagine that that is twice what we estimated," said board member Dr. Bob Fox after hearing the initial cost analysis report. "To me, this seems like we're building a Mercedes school, and I can't see that."

Superintendent Dan Steska said the board would compare Sverdrup's report to at least two other estimates to be submitted before the end of January. The school board also will hear a proposal Monday from the Regional Architects Coalition, which designed the new vocational school.

Steska said he hoped the public would understand that Sverdrup's figures presented Wednesday were just a preliminary estimate. "I hope they understand we're getting a second and third opinion," he said.

The high school would be more expensive to build than the vocational school, said Tim Scarborough, senior analyst for Sverdrup, because its design is more complex. He said the high school needs to be more durable, and "it makes a statement about the community."

Sverdrup prepared its estimates under a temporary design contract not to exceed $26,000. If the company is hired to design and build the high school, any fees charged would be included in the total project cost. Otherwise, Sverdrup will receive an hourly rate for its work, which to date has included interviews with staff, parents and students to determine what the design should include and cost analysis research.

"We have not received a bill, and we have not paid them anything," Steska said. "We have told them not to proceed any further without further direction."

School board members say they don't want to consider a partial building project or renovation of the Central High School building on Caruthers Street to accommodate grades nine through 12. Central houses grades 10 through 12.

Asked about constructing just part of the new high school and finishing the rest later, Board of Education President Ferrel Ervin said: "I think there's always a fear something might happen in the community and there will be no money for the next phase. In my mind I would like to build the building we're going to be in with this one effort."

Sverdrup representatives said their lower-cost design would not include an auditorium, tournament-sized gymnasium or performance fields. However, practice areas for athletic teams and music-related groups, which district patrons indicated were important options, would be included.

The Sverdrup officials also said the proposed building's design is expensive because it represents the high school's importance to the community. And, they said, the design also is efficient and would require little maintenance for the next 50 years.

"You get a shot once a generation to build a high school," said Sverdrup project manager Jim Kurtz. "You want to build something you'll be able to get good use out of for at least 50 years."

The Sverdrup officials said a less expensive school could be built but only with cheaper materials that would cost the district more money to maintain.

"There are some high growth areas around St. Louis where they're throwing up buildings," said Brad Sims of Sverdrup. "I think they're going to be throwaways in 10 to 15 years."

Construction costs for recent school projects in the St. Louis area have been in the $95-per-square-foot range, according to information gathered by the Southeast Missourian.

In 1997, district voters approved a $14 million bond issue to pay for the new vocational school, Blanchard Elementary School and renovations to four elementary schools and Central Junior High School. At the time voters were told that a new high school and other renovations would have to be funded by a second $14 million bond issue to be voted on in April 2000. The district pledged there would be no tax increase for the second phase of the program.

However, board members indicated Wednesday that the vote on the second bond issue may have to be delayed while the district determines what the actual cost of the new high school will be.

"The board will have to decide based on the recommendations from the master plan committee the way they want to go ," he said. "We will be seeking a lot of community input, but I need something to give the community first."

In addition, the Board of Education has recently discussed having another election next year sometime after the bond vote to consider a property-tax increase to fund teacher salary increases.

In spite of the higher-than-anticipated cost estimates from Sverdrup for the new high school, some board members and the superintendent say the district could afford to spend up to $25 million.

"If we can get a fully functional high school for $25 million, that's affordable without a tax increase," he said.

To accomplish this, the district would use interest accumulated from the first $14 million bond issue, move some funds from other capital projects and extend the district's debt-service levy. Extending that levy would also require voter approval.

Ervin, the board president, said, "I think it's going to take us awhile longer to do the evaluation of the materials being presented to us." He said the public "has got to buy into whatever is decided."