A 16-classroom addition is needed at Tomlin Middle School by the 2009-10 school year to meet class-size reduction requirements and ensure the availability of satisfactory classrooms for the projected student enrollment. Appointment of an architect for design of the addition is needed now to allow completion of the facility prior to the 2009-10 school year.

When feasible, the reuse of an existing design is the fastest, most cost-effective way to accomplish new school design. Florida Statutes encourage district school boards to reuse school designs to save money when constructing new schools, and allow direct appointment of design professionals when reusing plans. Staff has evaluated all recent 16-classroom middle school addition designs and has determined that it is feasible to reuse the design for the additions at Bartels and Shields Middle Schools on the Tomlin Middle School site. Appointment of Long & Associates Architects/Engineers, Inc. to adapt their 16-classroom middle school addition to the Tomlin site for a fixed fee of $157,870 is therefore recommended.