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Members of the Andalusia City Schools Board of Education were presented with an updated plan for a possible expansion at Andalusia Elementary School on Tuesday.

Neal Hughes of McKee and Associates, an architectural firm that has worked with the school system on past projects, presented the board with a plan that would add 16 new classrooms, a gym, and a cafeteria area to the school. In addition, there will be a common bathroom shared between every two classrooms and a portion of the addition will be hardened to FEMA standards to serve as a shelter area for the entire population of the school. The cafeteria area would only be for serving students, not to include a kitchen.

There would be a hard-connection to the current campus and general-use restrooms near the gym area.

Some offices would be included in the project for certain administrators and support personnel.

The updated plan presented Tuesday came after the firm received feedback from the board at a previous meeting.

If the plan is accepted, it would include drop-off and pick-up lanes for that portion of the campus as well as a parking area. Currently, the board is eyeing the addition as an area for Pre-K and kindergarten students.

The shelter area would be enough to accommodate all AES students, with a total occupancy of 1,427, according to Hughes.

The total size of the addition is 37,550 square feet. Based on current construction prices, Hughes said the cost would likely be in the area of $15 million.

The addition as presented in the proposed plan would connect with what is commonly referred to as the “yellow hall,” on the north side of the campus.

If the plan is approved by the board, Hughes said it could take approximately six months to prepare for construction with the actual construction requiring about one year.

The board also discussed with Hughes the possibility of working with ALDOT to provide the possibility of another entry point into the school from the bypass.

No action was taken on the matter.

Other items discussed by the board included:

• approving to let bids for the possible purchase of two short buses. Superintendent Daniel Shakespeare said there is a need for smaller buses to transport the systems smaller groups, including athletic teams like golf and tennis.
• approving to enter into a contract with Tri-State Behavioral Solutions. The program will provide the system with personnel to meet the needs of students with “severe or extreme” behavioral issues.
• approving a joint bid with other school systems for a Child Nutrition Program summer feeding program.
• approving to advertise for a new secretary/bookkeeping position for the central office.
• approving using TAP funds for a project that would complete the sidewalk placement around Andalusia High and Junior High schools. The cost of the project is $68,000.

The board set its next meeting for March 17, 6 p.m., in the board room of the central office.