EXCEL Project

          The state legislature appropriated a new aid program designed to help local school districts with the cost of capital projects.  It is called EXCEL (Expanding our Children's Education and Learning) aid.  Our EXCEL aid allocation totals $2,030,375.  This one-time funding source can be used only for projects that meet certain criteria, such as educational technology, capacity expansion, handicap accessibility, health and safety, and energy conservation.  This new allotment can be used in conjunction with standard state building aid.

          With voter approval, the architects were able to proceed with finalizing design plans.  That process included important discussions with faculty members who helped the architects conceptualize the needs or our students and programs.  A construction manager was then hired to work with the architects in establishing final costs and completing the formal proposal required by the State Education Department.  That package was sumbitted for SED review the second week of February.  The review process is projected to take 25 weeks.  Once the review is complete, requests for construction bids will be let, triggering a 45-day process for awarding bids to contractors.  Construction is expected to begin in late 2008.  The one exception is the high school track project, which will be completed this spring, weather permitting.