Facilities Work Ahead For Dayton Schools

DAYTON - In anticipation of long-term construction and renovations for the Dayton School District schools, the school board last Wednesday began the investigation stage of the process.

The board began by hearing a presentation from Construction Services Group who will, if selected, manage the long-term project.

The investigation phase will help the board determine what kind of facility needs students in the Dayton School District have, Superintendent Doug Johnson said.

Johnson said if the Construction Services Group is hired for the district, he sees it working with the facilities com- mittee of about 13 parents and a few community members. Johnson said he also expects the group will work on the study and survey, which the district will qualify for in January 2013 as well as the selection of an architect to design renovation and construction in the district.

"(Construction Services Group) does not do the restoration or construction," Johnson said. "They manage projects and provide technical assis- tance."

Eastern Washington Re- gional Manager Dax Logsdon said the company's goal is to help the district work through the study and survey, come up with a plan and get a lot of input for the district.

Johnson said the long-term plan will start with the study and survey, which will lead to community meetings, meetings with architects and consultants like the Construction Services Group and finally a recom- mendation for a bond issue for construction and renovations that could be brought to the board for approval.

The target date for the bond election is February 2014, Johnson said.

"Renovation and construc- tion may not being for one to two years after that depending on the extent and availability of state matching funds," Johnson said.

Johnson said the group came to the meeting to present to the school board at his request.

"I have talked to other dis- tricts that have used their ser- vices and felt they have much to offer Dayton School District," Johnson said.

The school board will vote on the use of the group at the next meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 20.

Logsdon presented his company's role in facility examina- tion, renovation and construc- tion.

The Construction Services Group manages a lot of construction projects, Logsdon said, so the group sees a lot of variety and is better equipped to handle the kind of projects the district will be looking at in the coming years.

"You're running a school district, you don't build schools every day," Logsdon said. "But suddenly you're thrust into having to construct a facility and manage it. Well, that's why we're here."

Logsdon said the group has a lot to draw from to apply to the school district's situation and has systems in place to maintain quality and timeliness.

"We have staff on site doing field observation reports, mak- ing sure the quality is up hellip; keeping it a team environment," Logsdon said.