In a special called meeting before Gilmer High’s graduation, the school board made some decisions about the school’s facilities.
Standing in his graduation robes, Gilmer County Schools Superintendent Dr. Brian Ridley recommended a construction manager at-risk for the new auxiliary gym and a bid for a new greenhouse.
Both projects are some of the final pieces of 15 projects proposed at the high school May 2024, funded through ESPLOST and the capital budget.
“We’ve done a lot of work to make sure we have the money to pay for it all,” Ridley said.
Of the 15 projects, most of them are either in progress or finished.
Charles Black Construction was appointed as the construction manager at-risk for the new auxiliary gym at the high school at a cost of $434,780, which was the lowest bid by a slight amount. The company also scored the highest on the criteria rating.
This is just the cost for the construction manager. A construction manager at-risk is a general contractor who assumes responsibility for the project’s construction and cost.
Director of Maintenance and Facilities Thomas Griffith said bids should be ready by July.
Construction of the gym will take place at the site of the old tennis courts. New tennis courts will be at the site of the old softball field near Mountainview Elementary.
A bid of $73,767 by Atlas was approved to replace the old greenhouse at the High School.
Ridley said the greenhouse was the original and was also constructed by the same company.