Greene BOE approves contractor for new elementary school building

This story was submitted via press release

Greensboro, Ga. — The Greene County Board of Education recently approved Atlanta-based company Evergreen Construction as the construction manager for the new elementary school to be built on Meadow Crest Road. 

Evergreen won the contract after the district conducted a competitive sealed proposal request, an open invitation for all qualified construction companies to submit bids for the contract. Evergreen submitted a first-rate proposal in response that indicated their superior ability to deliver the project according to the district’s priorities and was the lowest bidder. 

“The interview and assessment team was impressed with Evergreen’s bid package, and they highly recommended them for this project,” said Superintendent Dr. Chris Houston.

The project timeline includes pre-construction service beginning immediately and construction beginning in August 2022, with completion scheduled for July 2023 in time for the 2023-24 school year. Architect David Tench of the firm Gardner, Spencer, Smith, Tench & Jarbeau is currently working with GCSS administration to complete the state-of-the-art design. 

Also in Monday night’s meeting, the BOE voted to expand the scope of the new school to include grades 4 and 5. Previously, the school had been planned as a Pre-K–3^rd grade primary school model, but due to recommendations from staff and over-crowding at Carson Middle School and the resulting need to return to a 6^th–8^th grade middle school model, Superintendent Houston recommended that grades 4 and 5 be added to the new school. 

This move is in line with the district’s strategic plan goals of promoting grade level proficiency in reading by 3^rd and in math by 5^th, which can best be accomplished in an elementary setting. Keeping all elementary grades together in one location under one school leadership team allows continuity of approach, which research has shown is vitally important to achieving proficiency. Specific management procedures will be in place to emphasize the primary model for reading by third grade.

The increase in the project’s scope will increase the cost of construction due to the need for a larger building to accommodate all 6 grades. The construction cost, previously estimated at $22 million, is now estimated at $27 million to accommodate the 4th and 5th grades. Total cost, including all fees, furniture, fixtures, utility hook-ups, and land purchases is projected to be about $30 million. The materials cost will be finalized closer to the start of construction as the prices of steel, concrete, asphalt, fuel, and lumber have fluctuated so significantly over the past year.

“We are excited to soon be able to offer a new, state-of-the art educational facility to our youngest students,” Dr. Houston said. “The early, foundational learning years can set the trajectory for a student’s entire educational career, and we plan for this building, which will incorporate the latest innovations in education and technology, to be an important part of their strong start. In addition, we are proud to be the first phase of a major program planned for the Meadow Crest area that includes development of 200-1,000 affordable homes, potentially an athletic facility capable of attracting nation-wide programs, and more.”