South Pike will embark soon on a series of major renovation projects around the district.
Board members approved a base project and various alternate bids from Paul Jackson and Son of Brookhaven totaling a little more than $12 million.
The Brookhaven company was the sole bidder on the package of projects.
As much as the district plans to do, it could still do more.
“It would take $19 million ... to do everything,” said Luigia Hodge, a project manager with the architecture firm Dale|Bailey of Jackson. “If you’re sitting on a pot of gold, let me know.”
The projects are funded by federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief monies granted to help schools address the COVID-19 pandemic, and part of about $3 million raised by issuing 3-mill notes.
The base project is almost $7.3 million and includes air conditioning and ventilation improvements at the high school and both the Eva Gordon and Osyka elementary campuses, as well as an outdoor classroom at the junior high school and reroofing at Osyka and the district’s central office.
Among the accepted alternates are $1.4 million to repair or replace sidewalk canopies at Eva Gordon, $36,000 for fencing at Eva Gordon, more than $1.7 million to reroof the high school, more than $1 million to reroof Eva Gordon’s upper elementary building and $472,000 for restroom additions at the high school.
Other projects that didn’t make the cut include renovation of the Eva Gordon administration building, walkways canopies at the high school, and additional restrooms and reroofing at Eva Gordon.
A study of some of South Pike’s 16th Section land could lead to construction of a different type.
Assistant Superintendent Warren Banks, who oversees 16th Section issues, said a company had asked for permission to survey some of the district’s property for the suitability of building a solar energy farm and battery facility.
The amount of land needed and any lease income from the project would be determined by the survey.
Board members unanimously approved the construction bids and the survey request.
