By Gary Lloyd
TRUSSVILLE — No action was taken by the Trussville City Board of Education on Friday morning regarding the Magnolia Place elementary school bid.
Earlier in the week, the low bid that was revealed was nearly million over Trussville City Schools’ budget.
Once bids are opened, the school system has 30 days to take action on it. The bid was opened Jan. 13, so 30 days from then is Feb. 12.
Superintendent Pattie Neill said there is a plan in place to “remedy” the difference in the school system’s budget and the low bid. A committee will take the 30 days — or less — to study the bid and what the school should include. Reductions in the original school plan could be made to make the school affordable.
“We’ve already started the wheels turning toward the solution,” Neill said.
Board members didn’t directly address the issue of affording the schools. Board President Bill Roberts said it would be “wise” to wait until the bids were opened for the construction and renovation of the elementary school in the Cahaba Project before discussing options.
Neill said she’s “very comfortable” with where the school system is at in the process, noting that all the wants of the system and committees were included when the design plans were drawn up, instead of going with a base bid and adding change orders later in the process.
The school system could take action on the bid — to approve it or reject it — by the Jan. 26 meeting, or it could have a special-called meeting in February.
A school to house 500 students is the only option, said Trussville City Council President Alan Taylor.
“And we will figure out a way to get it done,” he said.
Contact Gary Lloyd at news@trussvilletribune.com and follow him on Twitter @GaryALloyd.