By Marcia Barnes
Staff Writer
Selection of an architectural firm to design the new Hayesville Intermediate School was decided at the Special Called Meeting of the Clay County Board of Education on Monday, Aug. 8.
All members of the board were present for the meeting and approved LS3P to do the work of designing the school which will include an auditorium and cafeteria.
Clay County Schools have already been awarded $40 million from the State of North Carolina to build the new school and the grant does not require matching funds. No fees were mentioned at the meeting for the design phase of the school.
Superintendent Dale Cole said, “I will contact Mr. Schwartz, the school board attorney to work on a contract.” Dole said that he hoped a contract could be signed off by Clay County Schools and LS3P a week before the next board meeting.
There was discussion led by Dr. Jason Shook who said his only concern for the firm being considered was that they were presently working on schools in Murphy and Franklin.
Further discussion by the board compared one firm’s T-Shaped building and the U-shape design characteristic of Boomerang, another architectural firm. No drawings were displayed during the open part of the meeting.
Danny Jones said, “The new school will be a show house.” Jones said he was impressed by the emphasis placed on safety in the designs. “My only concern is the price.”
None of the board members wanted to make cuts in the plans considered. Cole said, “I would like to start with the overall vision I like best.”
Reba Beck asked, “How do we get kids safely around the construction project?”
Cole said, “We’re just going to have to make it work.”
The next regular board meeting will be held on Monday, Aug. 22.