Greensburg Salem seeks consultant to prepare school project drawings, specifications

Greensburg Salem School District hopes to establish a relationship with a consulting engineer or architect so it can move forward with proposed capital projects.

The school board this week agreed to seek proposals for the consulting service while looking to obtain bids for projects, including development of an outdoor classroom at the high school.

In addition, Greensburg’s city code officials have asked the district to address a deteriorating low brick wall that supports a chain-link fence along the perimeter of Offutt Field.

“We’re looking for somebody that we could trust — to hold on retainer — for projects that come up where we need somebody to get us drawings and specifications so that we can prepare for bids,” district Superintendent Ken Bissell said. “We’re looking for a partner we can work with on an ongoing and as-needed basis, so that we’re not trying to find someone every single time.”

“We’re looking for outside help beyond our capabilities,” board President Jeff Metrosky said.

Other area school districts have established the type of relationship with a project consultant that Greensburg Salem wants to have, Bissell noted.

He doesn’t expect the district to have a consultant onboard before the end of the calendar year. He suggested Greensburg Salem initially could draw upon its capital project budget to support the service.

“It’s something we would work to budget for 2023-24 and beyond,” he said.

If all goes well, Bissell would like to pursue the outdoor classroom project next summer.

The district has about $75,000 on hand for the effort, including a $50,000 math and science grant from the state Department of Education. It is seeking an additional $50,000 state grant.

“We’re looking to get the ball rolling on that as soon as possible,” Bissell said. “Our science teachers and high school administrators have ideas of what they want for that space, but we need official specifications to be able to go out for bids.”

The space on the northern end of the high school campus includes a pond and a concrete slab that had been the location of a greenhouse used by biology students. A pump that served the pond is broken, and the greenhouse was torn down when it became structurally unsound, Bissell said.

Ideas for revitalizing the space include construction of a pavilion with outdoor seating and installation of fencing and lighting.

The outdoor classroom also could be available for use by students at adjacent Nicely Elementary.

“We have ideas, but we need drawings,” he said.