By Karen Daniels
The Stafford MSD school bond project has shown a commitment for transparency since it’s inception. At last week’s City Council meeting, Dr. Hindt, Superintendent of Stafford MSD, updated Councilmembers and the Mayor on the progress of the $49.9 million dollar ongoing construction for the District. Currently, $23,635 million has been spent with $26,274 million remaining in the bond. So far 47% of the work has been finished, however, the bulk of the outstanding work will be completed during the summer of 2013, before doors reopen in August.
Mr. Peoples, the District’s construction manager, showed pictures of the progress to the Board. The new canopy for the intermediate school; the structure of 24 classrooms for the elementary school, the nearly completed “red gym” in the high school. The Margaret Havens Library and Media Center, named after Mayor Scarcella’s mother who was a life-long educator and school board member, is being completely rebuilt. The library will include the College Center and be accessible to residents of Stafford after school hours.
The field house has been completed; the new drainage system installed. Mayor Scarcella gave credit to City Engineer, Charles Russell, for his assistance in the project and to Dr. Hindt for his handling of the influx of new students this year. This is the largest enrollment in Stafford MSD history. Of the approximately 250 new students, 50% were placed in primary and elementary schools and the other 50% were distributed between the intermediate, middle and high schools.
When Dr. Hindt was asked if he’d given thought to what he’d do with any money left over, he said, “I have a lot of ideas spinning in my head, but I’d like to wait to get closer to the end of the budget to announce them.” If the construction continues to go smoothly, there should be no trouble coming in, as Dr. Hindt likes to say, “On time, on schedule, and on budget.”