Central School demolition contract OK’d

By ROSE SCHNEIDER

Staff Writer

Findlay school board voted Monday to approve a demolition contract for the academic wing of Central Middle School that will cost $137,000 less than expected.

Miller Contracting Group, of Ottoville, was awarded the contract for $313,500.

District Treasurer Mike Barnhart said the board had estimated the contract would cost about $451,000.

"This is another bid, another project, that has come in under bid for us," board President Shane Pochard said. "We've been extremely successful through this whole building plan as far as funding is concerned, so that's outstanding."

All of Central won't be razed. Demolition of the academic wing will set in motion a project to transform the now-closed middle school's auditorium into a nonprofit performing arts center.

Assistant Superintendent Craig Kupferberg said demolition of the academic wing will begin in mid-July and should be finished by October.

The demolition is a part of the $57 million project that built Findlay's three new schools. The Ohio School Facilities Commission covered 68 percent of the price tag while the district is paying for 32 percent with a 4.3-mill bond issue, passed by voters in 2009.

Barnhart said the board received 12 bids for the demolition, but Miller Contracting offered the lowest price.

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Central School demolition contract OK'd