After evaluating two proposals, Centerville-Abington Community Schools’ board selected a company for a key role in demolition of its unsafe former junior high school and administration buildings. 

Centerville officials have condemned both the deteriorating building commonly known as “the annex,” which served older Centerville-Abington Elementary students in recent years, as well as the former administration building near the current one at 115 W. South St.  

At its Aug. 7 meeting, CACS’ board reviewed proposals from two Richmond firms, LWC Inc. and Maze Design, and said both offered knowledgeable options. The board voted 3-0 for LWC; members Andy Wandersee and Brad Lambright were absent. 

Kevin McCurdy, LWC partner and Centerville graduate, proposed presenting a demolition bid recommendation for the board’s review at its Sept. 25 meeting and completing the project by next summer. 

The Town of Centerville has condemned Centerville-Abington Elementary’s annex and former administration building as unsafe buildings. Plans are in early stages to demolish it. Photo by Millicent Martin Emery

Demolition and site restoration is expected to take three to four months. 

CACS needs to issue bonds to pay for the demolition, which LWC estimates will cost between $825,000 and $1 million, including a 10% contingency for unexpected issues.   

Administrators and school board members Todd Dooley, Todd Duke and Renee Westover supported LWC’s start date — about one month earlier than Maze’s — that better fits bond counsel’s recommended schedule to secure funding. 

After challenges in finishing the district’s transportation center and CAE’s addition, Superintendent Mike McCoy said he’s eager to get this project completed.

McCoy and board members also said LWC’s flat fees ($27,750 for design/bidding and $23,424 for construction administration) would make the process of securing bonds smoother when the cost is known. 

Maze would charge 6% of the low responsible bid, which won’t be available for a while. 

If demolition costs were low, CACS acknowledged Maze’s plan might have saved money, but it wasn’t guaranteed.  

LWC also had proposed its employees with construction administration experience would spend more time on site during demolition than Maze’s proposed number of visits.   

CACS is arranging for an asbestos evaluation to determine what sections of the building, if any, will require additional environmental precautions for debris disposal. CACS maintenance staff predict the boiler room might need remediation. 

The decision to demolish the annex hasn’t been easy for board members, many of whom have fond memories of their former school, but they’ve had years to get accustomed to the idea.  

When discussions began, board members showed early support for renovating the building instead of adding onto CAE until they saw how much more it would cost for roof, HVAC and other costly repairs and making it meet current fire safety and Americans With Disabilities Act requirements. No one bought the building when CACS made it available for charter schools as legally required, and it has fallen into further disrepair.       

CACS personnel updates

  • Departures: Kris Heiderich, Centerville Junior High School athletic supervisor; Ella Jaynes, Rose Hamilton Elementary special education teaching assistant; Tabitha Thomas, CAE daytime custodian 
  • New hires: Kris Heiderich, CJHS cross country coach; Gloria Cowin, CARES aide, and Crystal Combs, special education assistant, both at RH
  • Pending hires: George Sowers, CJHS Bulldog Connections Lab; Tammy Hollingsworth, RH special education assistant 
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A version of this article appeared in the August 14 2024 print edition of the Western Wayne News.

Millicent Martin Emery is a reporter and editor for the Western Wayne News.