Columbus Municipal School District is set to begin a feasibility study aimed at identifying facilities throughout the district that require updates to align more effectively with current K-12 standards.
In a special-call meeting Tuesday evening, the board of trustees selected the PryorMorrow architectural firm to conduct the study, which should take about two months. The district will pay the firm $155,680 for those services, according to the proposed agreement.
Superintendent Stanley Ellis said as he and the board have toured various facilities in recent months, the need for updates has become more evident.
“We really want to make sure that we are providing our students with the types of environments that’s going to be conducive to student learning and growth,” Ellis said. “We believe the students deserve to have nice facilities, and we’re doing the feasibility study because we want to really know what the needs are and be able to attach a number with the need.”
Ellis said the decision to go with PryorMorrow was an easy one, given the firm has worked with the district before. PryorMorrow designed the Columbus Middle School and Stokes-Beard Elementary.
The facilities study is a continuation of the work the district started with its capital improvement plan in 2019. CMSD Board of Trustees President Talisa Young said the study will determine how far the district has come with capital improvements and what updates are further needed.
“It’s a little over $2 million that we earmarked to start capital improvements, like anything that’s needed within the district,” Young said. “We will use those funds to continue to pay for this.”
Young, who grew up attending CMSD schools, noted all but two of the buildings in the district are the original structures.
“Basically the school district is looking for a detailed study and analysis, and how we can move forward making sure our buildings are safe, secure and academically sound,” Young said. “We’re at a pivotal point, and there are things that we know we need to get done, and we want to know exactly how we can save time and money and meet the needs for the students.”
PryorMorrow is a Mississippi-based firm with several offices located across the state, including one in Columbus. The firm’s study will analyze all district campuses and offer recommendations, including estimated costs for construction, renovation and repair, according to the firm’s proposed agreement.
When work on the study will begin is still unclear, Young said.
“Typically what happens once we take action on something, we get the contract signed, and we’ll get that done,” she said. “In January, hopefully we’ll be able to see what that looks like.”
The district also considered the services of Architecture South for the study. Architecture South is a Tupelo-based firm with several education-related projects in its portfolio including designs at Northeast Mississippi Community College.
McRae is a general assignment and education reporter for The Dispatch.
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