Bay school board approves architect contract and environmental study money for replacement of Tyndall Academy

The Bay County School Board voted March 24 to approve an architectural services fee to develop design documents for a replacement for Tyndall Academy and separately approved a $147,080 contract with Tetra Tech for an environmental assessment.

The work approved on Tuesday includes reuse and expansion of drawings from an earlier K–8 project and budgeting for sound‑mitigation and other site‑specific measures. Lee, district facilities staff, told the board the current estimate for design services is being presented at roughly $7.0 million and that the figure will scale with the final agreed construction scope and cost.

The board’s approval authorizes the superintendent to proceed with the architect and with Tetra Tech, a national environmental consulting firm the district hired to pursue an environmental assessment (EA) for one preferred site called the Cleveland Gate site (often referred to in the meeting as Site 3). Board members and staff emphasized that the EA is intended to determine whether the site can avoid the more extensive environmental impact statement (EIS) process.

Why it matters: Tyndall Academy’s current campus is on leased property that the district expects to vacate before the 2028–29 school year. The board majority said it needs schematic drawings, cost estimates and an EA now so the district can present a complete plan and apply for outside funding, including FEMA A&E (architectural and engineering) reimbursement, if available. Lee told the board the district will submit architect invoices for FEMA reimbursement under an existing A&E project but that the district has funds in hand to pay costs up front.

Board members asked for a public workshop to review site options, construction cost scenarios and funding strategies before any larger funding votes. Several board members noted the significant uncertainty in current cost estimates; the presentation indicated the architect’s fee is calculated as a percentage of a notional construction estimate (discussed during the meeting as $132 million), so a lower or higher final construction figure would change the firm’s fee.

Tetra Tech contract: The contract approved for environmental consulting totaled $147,080 as presented in the meeting materials. District staff said the local environmental consultant had recommended Tetra Tech because of the firm’s experience with federal review processes and because Tetra Tech could help the district avoid moving from an EA to a multi‑year EIS, which would delay the project.

Funding and next steps: Lee and finance staff said a large portion of the work will be paid from hurricane recovery A&E funds and that the district will pursue reimbursement from FEMA. Board members asked finance staff about prior spending on the project; staff reported roughly $3.5 million already spent on earlier planning and related charges. The board directed staff to schedule a workshop to present the architect’s schematic drawings, anticipated construction costs for each site option, and funding scenarios before any further appropriation votes.

What was decided (actions at a glance): The board approved the superintendent’s recommendation to enter the architectural services agreement for the Tyndall replacement project (motion by Board Member Register; second by Board Member Moore) and approved the Tetra Tech environmental assessment contract (motion by Register; second by Moore). Roll call votes recorded the five board members present as voting in favor.

The discussion: Board members asked detailed questions about the effect of site choice — particularly the preferred site near the runway — on noise mitigation, potential added construction costs, and time needed for environmental clearance. Staff said some costs would be quantifiable only after schematic designs and that certain base access logistics (security clearance for contractors, truck routing) could add expense if the district builds on an on‑base site. Staff also said Kendall (the base) was working on measures to reduce aircraft noise but that those mitigations were not yet finalized.

The board scheduled a dedicated workshop before any additional funding votes so trustees could review designs, cost estimates, and funding options for Tyndall Academy and for other high‑priority school projects.

Ending note: District staff emphasized the urgency of the timeline — the current leased campus will not be an option after 2028 — and said the work voted on Tuesday is intended to let the district narrow site choices, refine cost estimates and pursue any available federal reimbursements prior to final construction decisions.