News-Record.com

Trying to squeeze in $3.5 million in renovations at the former McLeansville Middle School before the Aug. 25 start of school proved too costly.

The Guilford County Board of Education learned Thursday night that it would cost $1 million more than budgeted for the project to get the work done in time. The district is delaying the opening of the school to rebid the project, hoping for more favorable bids. The first day for the new school might not be until late October or early November. McLeansville will reopen in 2005-06 as an elementary school to handle growth in the eastern part of the county.

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Construction costs ain't as friendly as they used to be. Five years ago, when the district embarked on its then-largest ever construction bond of $200 million (plus about $54 million from county funds), projects came in under budget. The district saved millions because of the favorable bid climate.

Those days are long gone. Most projects in the $300 million bond, passed by voters in 2003, are coming in just under or just over projected estimates. E.J. Deering, who oversees the district's construction work, said the district has been able to negotiate lower prices for the over-budget projects so far.

But the district isn't even half way through the 28 projects for this bond. If construction costs keep climbing, what will happen to later projects such as the $29 million Jamestown Middle replacement school, estimated to be completed in July 2007?

The latest project - a $4.2 million renovation of Ragsdale High - isn't expected to be done until late 2008.