Clover ninth-grade academy bid approved by school board

The Clover school board Monday approved a $9.1 million construction bid for renovating the Clover Middle School building into a ninth-grade academy.

The board approved Clancy & Theys Construction’s bid of $9.1 million. The base bid is $8,699,000, plus $419,000 for an auditorium renovation.

Kelly Clayton with the district’s project management firm, Cumming Corp., said the same contractor is building the new Oakridge Elementary School in Lake Wylie.

The ninth-grade academy and new elementary school are part of a $99 million construction plan that includes five major projects, undertaken by the district after voters approved a $67 million bond package in March 2014. The district made a $32 million down payment on the construction cost.

The stand-alone ninth-grade academy will serve all freshman. The main Clover High School campus will serve grades 10 through 12, with a capacity of 2,400 students, while the ninth-grade academy will have up to 1,000 students.

The project is scheduled to start in July, with final completion in May 2017.

The project will include a complete renovation of the middle school on S.C. 55, including upgrading kitchen equipment, replacing the data, intercom and security systems, replacing the HVAC units and other improvements.

Other school bond projects are nearing completion or have been completed.

Upgrading three athletic fields and making changes to Memorial Stadium to be compliant with the Americans With Disabilities Act, in the bond for $6 million, was completed in spring 2015.

Three construction projects still under way are Oakridge Elementary near Oakridge Middle School in Lake Wylie, a new Clover Middle School on Barrett Road and an aquatic center on Charlotte Highway. The aquatic center is to be operated by Upper Palmetto YMCA and maintained by the school district.

At the $25 million Oakridge Elementary School, final inspection is scheduled May 24 with projected occupancy June 1.

The new $40 million Clover Middle School final inspection has been moved from June 15 to June 29.

“It’s very tight. The goal is to move in July 5,” Clayton said. He said the plumbing contractor has gone out of business, “but we’re trying to get things back on better ground.”

The $18 million aquatic center is expected to open Labor Day weekend, with an inspection scheduled in July.

Superintendent Dr. Marc Sosne said the YMCA building fitness center and two indoor pools are expected be finished by Labor Day weekend, but the outdoor pool and water park will be finished later, and ready for use in spring 2017.

Voters approved $14 million in the bond package for the aquatic center, with the district and community adding almost $4 million for upgrades. The facility will have indoor and outdoor pools, a gym, weight room and exercise space.

Upgrades include a second level walking track and outdoor pool. Community donations and a $1 million contribution from York County hospitality tax funding will pay for an outdoor water park, similar to the YMCA’s Baxter Village facility in Fort Mill.

Other action

The board also gave approval for raising the price of school meals. It’ll cost an additional 10 cents for breakfast, while lunch will be 15 cents more, or $2.40 at elementary schools and $2.65 at middle and high school.

“We haven’t had an increase in three years,” said Ken Love, assistant superintendent for business services.

The price is still below the federal guideline of $3.13 for lunch, Love said, citing salaries, more fresh fruits and vegetables and federal standards as reasons why the increase is needed.

Love told the board he expects to present a balanced budget next month. The board will hold a work session June 13 and a final vote at a public June 27 meeting.

He said it’s likely that 20 new staff members will be hired, depending on growth needs.

This story was originally published May 17, 2016 at 3:11 PM with the headline "Clover ninth-grade academy bid approved by school board."