Board delays major Summertown High restroom overhaul after questions about $399,000 estimate; schedules special session

The Lawrence County School System Board of Education on March 27 tabled a proposed structural reconstruction of restrooms at Summertown High School after several board members questioned a $399,000 construction estimate provided by engineering firm ESG.

The project was prompted by a structural evaluation that identified deteriorating cast-iron plumbing and flaking concrete above restroom areas, according to presentations made for the board. ESG and the district’s engineers recommended tearing out a pipe chase, removing the failing cast-iron sanitary piping and rebuilding a reinforced pipe chase and ceiling support on the affected side of the building.

The board’s decision came after an hourlong exchange over scope and cost. Bobby Cox, an ESG representative at the meeting, summarized the technical work ESG had done and the documents the firm could deliver: “The plans would be about a 200-page drawing packet including architectural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing and structural drawings,” he said, adding that the district had already incurred roughly $37,000 in ESG and consultant time. Cox said an additional $41,000 would be required to produce non-stamped plan documents for the district, bringing the firm’s indicated immediate cost to roughly $82,000 for plans and early work.

Board member Adams sharply questioned the overall price. “I believe this is outrageous … we’re being overcharged on these plans,” Adams said during the meeting, urging the board to seek alternatives and additional quotes.

Director Atkins described the district’s earlier path: engineers initially estimated a larger scope (hundreds of thousands of dollars), the district and ESG scaled scope to focus on the structurally compromised restrooms, and a contractor that had first reviewed the job withdrew because of timing and complexity. Atkins said the district already had contractors and facilities staff standing by to perform some of the non-structural work if the board chose that option.

Given the unresolved cost questions and several board members’ requests for more information, trustees voted to delay final approval and scheduled a special meeting for 5 p.m. April 10 to revisit the project with updated quotes, documentation and a clearer path for architect stamping and construction sequencing. The board asked ESG to return with a refreshed cost estimate, clarification about what the district would receive for $41,000 versus the higher turnkey price, and a list of changes that would trigger change orders or additional costs.

Why it matters: the restrooms in question have been closed and the district’s engineers warned of structural deterioration that could pose safety risks and disrupt school operations. Summertown High School administrators and teachers have been operating around the closures; the principal described life-safety and logistical impacts on students and staff.

What the board directed: trustees tabled the construction authorization, asked for updated, current pricing from ESG and competing proposals where feasible, and set a special session for April 10 to make a prompt decision before summer construction windows close. The board also asked district staff to evaluate how much of the finishing work (flooring, ceilings, fixtures) could be completed by district maintenance to reduce contractor costs, and to report likely schedules required to finish any approved work before the 2025–26 school year.

Board members and staff emphasized they want the work completed as quickly as possible but not at a price the board considers unsupported by comparison bids or more transparent scope documentation.

Ending: The board left the record open for further cost detail; ESG and district staff will return to the special session with clarified pricing, the architect’s position on stamping plans, and a recommended procurement path.