Lowndes High project needs portable classes

Published 10:00 am Wednesday, April 17, 2019

VALDOSTA — There will be a need for a few portable classrooms once the Lowndes High School project begins in June.

The Lowndes County Board of Education approved local Firm Foundations to renovate the portables that the school system purchased from an area church.

The cost of renovating the portable unit, which is about 8,000 square feet and will fit seven classrooms, is $41,500.

The only other bid was from Rusty Thornton Construction, which was quoted at $46,500.

“We’ve got a price from two vendors, and as you can see, Firm Foundation was the lowest,” said Ken Overman, assistant superintendent.

The $41,500 will pay for exterior renovations, the replacement of interior sheetrock and ceiling tiles, three approved walkways with handrails and trailer skirting.

However, the roof, floor, electrical, insulation HVAC, plumbing and painting still needs to be done to the portable, which will add to the cost at a later date.

Board members asked if any other portables would be needed and if the portables would take up parking spaces.

Overman said the high school has only requested one more double portable that will be used for technology classes, but it will be brought up at an upcoming meeting.

He said parking would not be interrupted by the portables.

“This is all the portables that are going to be necessary for this project,” Overman said.

The LHS project originally called for more portables that would cost the district about $2 million. Initially, the portables would only be rentals for two years, whereas the portables the board approved Monday evening are owned by Lowndes County Schools. 

Katelyn Umholtz is a reporter with the Valdosta Daily Times. She can be contacted at (229)244-3400 ext. 1256.