Regents OK design, bond plans for aquatic center

~ Construction could start in May, with completion by the following April.

The board of regents approved a final design and budget Friday for construction of an aquatic center to serve Southeast Missouri State University students.

Construction could start in May, and the project could be completed by April 2007.

"We know this comes from the students and the students want it," said board president John Tlapek.

The revised design includes some cost-cutting moves to keep the project within the $8.2 million budget. Revenue bonds, retired by student fees, will pay for construction. Student fees also will fund the operation of the building.

The addition on the northwest corner of the Student Recreation Center on new Madrid Street will include a six-lane, lap pool, as well as a recreational pool, a whirlpool, water slide and a waterfall.

The board hired Paric Corp. of St. Louis to manage construction of the project.

School officials said 12 percent of the project budget is set aside to pay for any contingencies.

But university president Dr. Ken Dobbins told the board that the job of the construction management company is to keep from spending the contingency money if possible.

The regents authorized the issuance of $8.3 million in bonds through the Missouri Development Finance Board. School officials expect the bonds to be issued in April or May.

The regents earlier this year approved a $2-per-credit-hour fee increase. Part of that increase will help fund retirement of the bonds.

Students began paying the increased fee this fall. The fee will increase by $2 each of the following four years, Holt said.

In other action, the regents renewed the charter for Lift for Life Academy in St. Louis for another five years.

School officials cited the success of the charter middle school in helping at-risk, inner-city children.

Southeast first chartered the academy in 2000, and last year approved a one-year extension.

A university committee, which reviewed the academy's operations, unanimously recommended the regents continue the partnership.

The academy currently has 235 sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders.

Founder Marshall Cohen said the academy was established to help studetns stay in school, and then go on to high school and eventually college.

"Our goal is to have a spectacular school," he said.

By state law, charter schools may only operate in the Kansas City and St. Louis school districts. They only can operate if chartered by specific universities or the Kansas City or St. Louis school districts.

mbliss@semissourian.com

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