LEXINGTON — The Lexington board of education adopted a resolution Wednesday night selecting Shook Construction as the manager for the construction of the district’s new middle and high school building.
Finding a company that wanted to oversee the construction of Lexington’s new middle and high school wasn’t difficult. In fact, district superintendent Mike Ziegenhofer said a handful of firms have been “clamoring” for years.
Shook was ultimately selected by a committee of school board members and school administrators, who received seven initial applications before narrowing the search to four finalists.
Assistant superintendent Jeremy Secrist stated that all four contractors expressed interest in the project because the abundance of skilled trade workers and companies in Richland County make the undertaking financially feasible.
“The main responsibility (of a CMR) is to oversee the construction project. This company is not involved in the construction of the building,” Ziegelhofer explained.
As the CMR, Shook will guarantee the project’s completion and a guaranteed maximum price.
“It makes the project go much more smoothly, as opposed to being your own project manager on a project this size,” said Jason Whitesel, district treasurer.
Both Shook Construction and the school district hope to employ as much local labor as possible during the construction of the building.
According to Whitesel, the new middle and high school building will be at the current location of the baseball and softball fields. The board is hoping to have the fields moved to another district-owned property by spring.
The construction of a new seventh through 12th grade building comes after the district passed a 37-year, 8.6 mill bond levy last year. After the middle and high school facility is built, a second one will be constructed to house students in grades pre-kindergarten through six.
The school board will host a community meeting Jan. 27 at 7 p.m. in the high school auditorium to update the public on ongoing facilities plans.
