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Thursday, December 18, 2008

Bidding Process To Start on Arts Center

By Lee Ross
Mountain View Telegraph
          Even in tough economic times, the show must go on.
        The Moriarty-Edgewood School Board moved forward with plans for a performing arts center on Tuesday night. The board voted unanimously to start the bidding process for the $6.45 million project.
        Although the plans for the center have been scaled down to a 23,500-square-foot building, there are a few concerns with the architectural drawings, presented by Bill Fanning of Albuquerque's Fanning, Bard and Tatum architecture firm. Specifically a wall of windows at the front of the building.
        "Are we gong to put in windows that can't be broken?" district Superintendent Karen Couch asked. "How much would it cost to replace some of these windows?"
        Broken or vandalized windows is an ongoing concern, one that maintenance supervisor Skip Laue said has been addressed, to some extent, by installing security cameras in problem areas.
        There was some discussion about installing security cameras near the windows, decreasing the size of the windows or eliminating windows down low, where rocks may be more likely to strike them.
        The building will also have electrical conduit run to the roof, Fanning said, which could be used to install solar panels. If bids for the building come in lower than expected, solar panels may be installed at the time the building is built, according to Todd McCarty, the board chairman. That could allay some concerns about the cost of utilities for the building.
        "You know the first question people are going to ask is how we're going to pay to maintain that facility," he said.
        Couch pointed out that this project may not be moving forward at all had voters not passed a school's bond election for $18 million in improvements in February. With all the funding for the project secured, she said she didn't anticipate the project — which has received part of its $6.45 million budget from state sources — would get the ax from officials in Santa Fe.
        She referred to a state plan, announced in October, to curb a revenue gap and balance the state budget. Gov. Bill Richardson called for a reauthorization of $200 million to $300 million in stalled capital outlay projects.
        Also relating to the subject of school funding, Associate Superintendent Mike Reese presented the enrollment numbers for the district.
        The current enrollment, 3,412, is basically the same as a few months ago, according to Reese. That is a loss of 12 students, which has been spread relatively even through all the schools in the district, he said. He also said the loss tracks with a trend the district has seen for the last seven years.
        McCarty pointed out that the drop in enrollment at this time last year was 80 to 90 students.
        "I guess we're not bleeding as bad," he said.