SITE FOR JACKSON'S MIDDLE SCHOOL TO BE ACQUIRED SOON

JACKSON -- Jackson School Superintendent Wayne Maupin says planning for the proposed new middle school is progressing well, and a site for the school should be acquired by mid-December.

"Right now we're in the process of securing a site," Maupin said. "We're getting close but are still a little way from finalizing everything. The architects are reviewing the site we have in mind. Negotiations are now under way. We do not foresee any problems at this time.

"We have a tentative agreement from a seller, but before any decision to purchase is made, soil tests must be conducted to determine the load-bearing capability of the soil," he said.

Maupin said the proposed site is in the west end of Jackson.

Last August a Citizen's Facility Advisory Committee recommended the district construct a middle school to relieve overcrowding at the R.O. Hawkins Junior High School and West Lane Elementary School. On Sept. 9, the school board adopted the committee's recommendations.

Last month the firm of Dudley and Stearnes was selected as architect for the middle school project. The firm handled the construction of the Orchard Elementary School. A St. Louis bond attorney who has handled the sale of bonds for the school district in previous bond issues was selected for the middle school project, Maupin said.

"The architects have been given data regarding the program needs and space requirements of the teachers and administration, and are now preparing preliminary cost estimates and a conceptual floor plan of how the new building might fit together and fit on the property," he explained.

"When the detailed plans and cost estimates are completed, they will be given to the school board, which must make a decision on the amount of bonds that must be sold and whether to place the bond issue on the April ballot.

"In order to get it on the ballot in April, that decision must be made no later than Feb. 9. I anticipate the board will make the decision at its second meeting in January," Maupin said.

The school district would like to build the school without an increase in the school tax levy.

"That's our target," said Maupin. "We feel we can do it by the sale of the general obligation bonds," he said. "Right now the district's total bonded indebtedness is about 1 percent of the total amount allowed by the state."

A work flow chart prepared by the architects anticipates groundwork for the new school starting in March, with the building completed in either August or early September 1994.

"Keep in mind this is a very ambitious schedule," said Maupin. "There is an awful lot of work that has to be done in a hurry for all of this to take place on schedule. It will also involve some obligations of money by the school board up front. If there are any delays in starting the project, it will set back the opening of the school accordingly, Maupin said.