Architect Offers Updated Site Plan for New PCHS
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[PCHS Board and the many students present got their first look at the updated floor plan and site plan for the new Pinckneyville Community High School.
District Architect Dave Mevert said there were some small changes to the initial plan which will most likely result in a net gain of square footage.
The exterior wall of the media center had to be moved in about four feet and the west wall along Panther Drive came in a few feet, as well. However, additional storage and restrooms were added on the east that have more square footage than was lost.
The site plan included the improvements to Panther Drive, including the curb and gutter system, storm sewer and bus lane.
Also included in the site plan are an eight-lane all weather track and a new announcer's booth on the west side of the football field near Thomas Gym.
The track will require expansion into the east parking lot. A new retaining wall will be built. Some parking spaces will be lost on the east.
More parking will be lost on west behind Thomas Gym when curb cuts are added to that lot. A new parking lot will be built once the old building is demolished will have a few more parking spots than the middle lot and circle drive, which it replaces.
Parking is expected to be a bit of a problem during the construction phase.
Superintendent Jon Green said that the circle drive will be closed in late February to make room for construction trailers. The middle lot between the school and Thomas Gym will also be off-limits. Access to the current building will be restricted to the practice gymnasium doors and the door on the east side of the school. The fence there will be removed.
Construction is expected to last 20 months. During the construction process, some health/life/safety work will be done to Thomas Gym and the other facilities that will remain in use with the new building, including handrails and a new sprinkler system.
The new school will sit above Thomas Gym and will be connected through a ramp into the current lobby.
The Board approved the new site plan and was told to expect a detailed cost report in January.
Groundbreaking is planned for late February.
The Board passed a resolution to sell $5,965,000 in general obligation school bonds series 2011 to cover the local share of the new school. The resolution included a direct levy to repay the bonds.
Dave Pistorius, Vice President of First Mid-State, said the district can expect to receive their funds on Jan. 4.
The bonds will be repaid on a 20-year schedule from 2010 to 2029. Payments will be made to First National Bank in Pinckneyville which will be the paying agent.
The annual payments will be about $480,000 per year. The first payment will be due December 1, 2012. Interest payments will be made June 1 of each year over the life of the bonds.
Pistorius said he could not offer specifics, but was very pleased with the number of local buyers for the bonds.
Pistorius said the overall interest rate on the bonds is 4.6714 percent. District 101 has an A+ rating through Standard and Poors which helped keep the interest rate low.
There is a call feature on the bonds which allows the district to repay the all or some of the remaining amount after 10 years, saving on interest.
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