Festus R-6 school officials have agreed to “pause” the building of a wellness center and gymnasium because estimates for the construction cost have risen from about $14 million to $27 million.
The board voted unanimously Nov. 17 to put the project on hold.
Superintendent Nicki Ruess said the proposal to construct a 40,000- to 42,000-square-foot building that would serve as a wellness center and gymnasium on the south side of Festus High School, 501 Westwind Drive, is not dead.
“We are not dropping it,” Ruess said. “We are going to revisit it every six months.”
The wellness center and gym was one of the projects the district planned to fund with revenue from Proposition F, a 59-cent tax increase district voters approved in April 2019.
Other projects promised to voters if the measure passed have been completed, like the $12.5 million performing arts center, the reconfiguration of the Festus Elementary drop-off and pick-ups areas, the construction of a new playground at the elementary school, safety and security measures in district buildings and technology upgrades across the district.
Plans for the wellness center and gym call for a small indoor track and space for basketball and wrestling events, as well as seating for at least 2,100.
Ruess said that when the board considers the matter again in six months, those plans will remain in place.
“At this time, it would be the same design package we have,” she said.
Ruess said district officials looked hard at the matter before voting to delay the project.
“While we are disappointed, we feel it’s the most fiscally responsible thing to do at this time,” she said.
On Nov. 18, Ruess sent a message to R-6 parents explaining the board’s decision to put the project on pause and said just one general contractor had submitted a bid for the project, and it came in at $24 million.
“That’s 65 percent over what we had budgeted,” she said. “There were additional alternative items that totaled a little more than $1.5 million (locker rooms and a school-based health clinic) and items that the district was to purchase (like basketball goals, a scoreboard, nets and so on) that would add another $1.5 million. All told, the wellness center/gymnasium project was going to cost about $27 million, nearly double what was budgeted for the project.
“The current volatile market conditions, including material and skilled labor shortages, are blamed for the higher costs.”
Ruess said those who want to see the wellness center and gymnasium built should not lose heart.
“I really do think (it’s going to eventually be built),” she said. “Right now, it’s just timing – the volatile market. It’s definitely not an abandoned project.”
More classroom space still in the works
Meanwhile, plans to add classrooms at the Festus Intermediate and Festus Middle schools are moving forward, Ruess said.
This project, which also is to be covered with some Proposition F funds, plus some district operating funds – will cost an estimated $9 million to $11 million.
That estimate also is significantly higher than the district initially expected, Ruess said.
“Had the wellness center bid been close to what was budgeted, the money (would be) available to do both projects,” she said in her message to parents. “But, with the wellness center being close to double what was expected, some tough decisions had to be made.”
Ruess said she doesn’t yet know how many classrooms will be added, but the rooms are needed because of increasing enrollment.
“We are just starting the design phase,” she said. “We plan to move the third grade to Festus Intermediate (from Festus Elementary) and to move the sixth grade to Festus Middle from the Intermediate.”
She said the classroom project took priority over the wellness center.
“At this moment, the classrooms are a greater need. In the past two years, the district has grown by more than 200 students. More growth is still expected.”
Ruess said Nov. 17 that the district’s latest enrollment count was 3,314 students.