Florida Statutes encourage district school boards to reuse school designs to save money when constructing new schools. Recently passed legislation requires district school boards to consider prototype school designs as one of the measures to successfully implement the constitutional mandate to reduce class size. The unexpected rush of growth in the Northwest County area, combined with the Board's constitutional duty to reduce class size, increases the urgency to build new schools in the fastest and most economical way possible. The reuse of an existing design is the fastest, most cost effective way to alleviate the overcrowding at Bryant and Westchase Elementary Schools. Appointment of the record architect and construction manager for the reuse of Collins Elementary School will allow the project to be fast-tracked and ensure completion for the 2007-08 school year.

We are recommending that the Board appoint the following firms to provide the necessary design and construction services:
1. The Architectural Practice, Inc. at a fixed fee of $403,875.
2. Ellis Construction Company at a fixed fee of $403,875.

Critical Success Factor 6.a.8 - Provide sufficient student stations to ensure uninterrupted student learning and data gathering as measured by District Operational Goals plan.

Construction budget is $10,770,000. This item is included in the District Capital Outlay: Certificates of Participation Series 2004C and Classrooms for Kids 2005.