Kingsport board approves $350,000 budget amendment, architect contracts for Lynn Garden school and Robinson fire alarm

At the meeting David Fry walked the board through Budget Amendment No. 3, which contains two primary appropriations to fund architect agreements. The board approved appropriating $300,000 from the district’s unreserved fund balance to fund phase‑2 architectural services for the new Lynn Garden Elementary School with Thompson Litton. Fry said phase 1 covered schematic designs; phase 2 includes design development, bidding documents, demolition of an on-site community center and ancillary outbuildings, relocation of underground utilities near the current football field, sitework and contract administration. Fry estimated the phase‑2 contract at a lump sum of $268,700 and said the overall phase work could be part of a roughly $4,000,000 phase of the project; the city has indicated it will fund the demolition portion (estimated roughly $700,000–$1,000,000) and the district expects to be reimbursed from a later bond sale.

Fry also recommended appropriating $50,000 from fund balance for architect fees to design and administer the Robinson Middle School fire alarm replacement. He told the board the architect’s base fee would be 5% of construction cost not to exceed $37,500 and said he hoped the total construction cost would come in between $300,000 and $500,000 (he emphasized those are estimates and final bids will determine actual cost). Fry said the district expects to send bids in mid‑February and anticipates returning to the board with a contract award recommendation in April, with construction complete before the next school opening timeline.

After discussion the board approved Budget Amendment No. 3 as presented, authorized the Robinson fire alarm replacement architect agreement (fee not to exceed $37,500), and approved the phase‑2 architect agreement with Thompson Litton for Lynn Garden (lump sum $268,700). Board members asked clarifying questions about design selection, timing and reimbursement; staff said bonds and city contributions will be used to reimburse the fund‑balance appropriations when bond proceeds are available. The motion carried and staff will move forward with bidding and contract administration as scheduled.