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BoE renews STAR contract, others
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Break out the calendar

Liberty County School dates to remember:
• Wednesday, Aug. 4: Pre-K open house is from 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
• Wednesday, Aug. 4: Kindergarten-12th grade open house is from 3-6 p.m.
• Thursday, Aug. 5: First day of school
• Tuesday, Aug. 10: Next BoE meeting is at 5:30 p.m.
The Liberty County Board of Education renewed its fiscal year 2011 contract for the STAR program and approved changes to construction and renovation projects Tuesday. The board members discussed project change orders for Donnell Woods Stadium, Olvey Field, the Career Academy and the Performing Arts Center as well as the demolition of the Hinesville Middle School gym and proposed modifications to the Gause Street property.
The BoE renewed its contract with Student Transition and Recovery Programs, Inc., for the 2010-11 school year in the amount of $18,400. STAR promised to provide one STAR coordinator and three instructors.
School board members Carol Guyett and Marcia Anderson opposed renewing the contract.
Guyett said she voted against it because Liberty County School Superintendent Dr. Judy Scherer had asked the board to suspend the program. Scherer had informed the BoE the state might cut STAR program funding to local school systems, Guyett said.
The school board then tackled change orders to construction and repair projects one by one.
Board members agreed to pay an additional $7,610 to Pope Construction Company for renovating restrooms and concession stands at Donnell Woods Stadium and approved a final payment of $138,161 on the project.
The board also approved a deduction of $9,589 from the Liberty County High School fieldhouse renovation project and agreed to pay Pope a final payment of $122,763.70 on the project.
Liberty County BoE members voted to pay Sturdisteel Company a $4,209.21 final payment on the Olvey Field visitor bleacher project and they agreed to pay Sturdisteel a $4,999.40 final payment on the Liberty High School Stadium bleacher project.
The BoE approved paying BRPH Architects a 5.5 percent fee on the actual project cost for professional services on the Career Academy project. Architectural and engineering services will include planning, construction drawings and construction administration.
Board members also approved a 5.5 percent fee on the actual project cost for professional services to Altman + Barrett Architects for the demolition of Hinesville Middle School gym. Architectural design services will include the demolition of the existing gym, greenhouse and tennis courts located near the administration building.
Anderson questioned why an architectural firm’s services were needed to demolish the gym. Deputy Superintendent Dr. Cheryl Conley responded that an architectural firm typically provides the necessary structural specifications when a building is demolished.
Conley added the board can discuss a timeline for the demolition work so the project won’t interfere with the start of school, particularly in regard to traffic flow generated by the Liberty Pre-K Center.
School board members also approved acquiring Altman + Barrett Architects’ professional services to modify its Gause Street property. The BoE intends to use the property as an alternative education facility site.
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