Bullard-Cook Inc. was the low bidder for the Andalusia City Schools’ additions at Andalusia Elementary School and Andalusia High School, but their bid was higher than the system had budgeted for the projects.

Superintendent Ted Watson told board members that the architect is looking at the plan with the contractor to determine what could be done to bring down the costs.

For instance, the addition at AHS will include “hard space” which will serve as a storm shelter for the whole school. FEMA will reimburse the system for 75 percent of that cost, but until it is determined what that portion of the cost is, the board’s total commitment can’t be determined.

Watson said the City of Andalusia also has agreed to “give us some help,” but no dollar amount has been assigned to the in kind services that might be provided in the construction process.

“If we can’t get it worked out, we’ll have to start the bidding process over,” he said.