WOODLAWN - The Woodlawn School Board approved Superintendent Dr. Kevin Hancock's request Monday to begin advertising for "requests for qualifications" to find a construction manager to oversee construction of a new career education center and expansion of the school cafeteria.
Last October, the school board approved resolutions to do both projects. Hancock recommended passing both resolutions at that time so the district could meet the state's "early" Nov. 1 deadline for construction projects that would be eligible for state partnership funding.
Partnership money refers to a program where the state provides a certain percentage of the costs for construction projects related to certain school facilities. The amount awarded to each district is determined by that district's wealth index. Woodlawn can have about 70 percent of construction costs paid for through the partnership program.
Hancock told the school board Monday night that by having a construction manager on board before the official partnership deadline on March 1, 2024, it would put the district in a better position to receive the funding.
Based on the sources he had spoken with at the regional and state level, Hancock told the board in October that he felt "confident" the district's two projects will be accepted into the partnership program. The district will learn if the projects were accepted into the partnership program later this spring, and will learn if they will be funded perhaps in late summer.
Partnership funding is awarded on a competitive basis based on the amount that the legislature approves for the fund each year.
The new career center would replace the existing family and consumer science (FACS) building located in what is the oldest structure on campus next to the elementary school. Hancock had an artist rendering of what the building could look like at Monday night's school board meeting. In October, he said he envisioned a 9,600 square feet center that could offer a variety of…
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