Now, as Superintendent, Hanna’s priorities are being implemented.

At the last School Board meeting there were three votes by the Board to move forward with renovation projects at Rickards and Fairview.

First, the Board voted to accept the Superintendent’s recommendation to approve an architectural consulting services contract in the amount of $423,476 for a Fairview Middle School project. The project includes new construction, remodeling and renovations of administration, dining, stage and kitchen facilities. The Fairview project has an estimated construction budget of $20,000,000.

The architect for the project is Barnett Fronczak Barlowe & Shuler Architects.

Second, the Board voted to accept the Superintendent’s recommendation to approve the Hoy + Stark Architects’analysis which calls for the demolition of buildings 5 and 6 at Rickards High School.

The analysis concluded that demolition would save the school system approximately $120,900 per year and corrects conditions found to be in violation of Life Safety codes, FLDOE requirements, and Safe School Design guidelines. Both buildings are over 50 years old.

The analysis will be submitted to the Florida Department of Education for review and approval. The Board has previously received approval to raze five other buildings on the Rickards campus.

And third, the Board voted to accept the Superintendent’s recommendation to approve a contract with Hoy+Stark Architects, P.A. in the amount of $816,903 for the Rickards High School New Construction Project. The project is for a two story classroom wing addition of approximately 20,000 square feet.

The Rickards construction project has an estimated construction budget of $30,000,000.

After the votes, Superintendent Hanna said “it’s going to be magnificent. I am excited about tonight. We made a promise to that community and to those schools and most importantly to those children. And tonight is the first step in delivering on that promise.”