Board reviews design development and geotechnical bid for Muhlenberg County High School auxiliary gym and early childhood center

Architect Chris Gibson and the design team presented a design-development package for the Muhlenberg County High School auxiliary gym and a schematic plan for an early childhood center. The 50-page design-development package identifies the structural system, a new event lobby to improve security flow on game days, an elevator to address egress issues, locker and trainer rooms, an officials room, storage and bleacher seating. The design team said BG-2 and BG-3 documents will follow and that they plan to bring construction documents to the April board meeting to proceed to bid.

On the early childhood center, the design team proposed two strategic additions grouping preschool/daycare classrooms into a secure 'neighborhood' with an extended learning area outside classrooms, a multipurpose space for parent events, and reuse of the existing playground for cost savings and security. The team said this layout will allow secure drop-off and direct playground access for preschool spaces.

Staff also presented results of a solicitation for geotechnical exploration required by the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) for new building square footage. Four firms were solicited and the lowest responsive bidder, UES, was recommended; staff asked the board to amend the geotechnical scope to include the early childhood center while the rig is mobilized to reduce mobilization time and cost. The approach was described as a schedule and cost-efficiency measure.

Board members asked whether a weight room could be incorporated into the new auxiliary facility; the design team said it could be considered but was constrained by the project budget and offered to include the request in the BG documents for further review. The board approved (as part of the consent agenda) acceptance of the geotechnical proposal and the design-development submission, with next steps to complete BG-2/BG-3 packages.