"No one could have predicted the effect that an invasion halfway around the world would have on work done at Mills University Studies High School," the district's legal team wrote, referring to Russia's attack on Ukraine. The legal team cited for example, the cost of an artificial turf softball field - made in part with petroleum - "has fluctuated astronomically." Over the past year, inflation, skyrocketing oil prices, supply chain issues, and other macroeconomic forces have substantially driven up construction costs." "Previously, PCSSD reported that this project would cost a total of $19 million," the district's legal team wrote. The attorneys did not say what they believe the new cost of the project would be but will keep the judge informed. Bids for the construction will be sought in February and March, with construction to start in early April 2023 and be completed by August 2024. The design work on the plans will continue until January, according to the attorneys. This will help to meet the needs of the students and their educators, will enable the utilization of pedagogical best practices, and will be an academic space that can be best adapted to remediate pandemic learning loss." "True to the name Mills University Studies High School, these academic spaces will feel more like a university and less like the traditional four walls of a high school classroom. "What it lacks in internal walls and convention, it makes up for in versatility and adaptability. "The proposal is a modern technologically enabled open concept academic space," the report states. In the latest report, district leaders told the judge that they have tweaked the plans for 10 classrooms to make six traditional rectangular rooms plus a more open space area equal to four classrooms that will allow for flexible use. The district responded to the judge later in 2021 with plans to add 10 classrooms, a 2,200-seat arena, a softball field and a renovated JROTC building at Mills. Marshall said in May 2021 that Mills and Robinson Middle are "excellent facilities," but he called Robinson "superior." "f Mills High gets an A, Robinson Middle gets an A++," the judge wrote at the time. The two schools were built at the same time and opened to students in August 2019 at a time when the district was obligated in the desegregation lawsuit to equalize the condition of its school buildings. Marshall in a May 6, 2021, order directed the Pulaski County Special district to propose to him a plan to "square up" inequities between the Mills campus, which is in a more heavily Black residential section of the district, and Robinson Middle School, which is in a more affluent, predominantly white residential area. Price Marshall Jr., the presiding judge in the 39-year-old lawsuit. The status report was requested earlier this year by Chief U.S. The district's legal team, headed by Devin Bates, raised the issue of escalating building costs in a status report on construction plans for Mills. Pulaski County Special School District attorneys told a federal judge in a long-running school desegregation lawsuit last week that it is going to cost more than the $19 million previously expected to "square up" Mills University Studies High School campus with that of Robinson Middle School.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |