On January 27, 2009, the School Board approved an Interlocal Agreement with the City of Tampa to retrofit emergency shelter facilities at Tampa Bay Boulevard Elementary, Forest Hills Elementary and Oak Park Elementary Schools. The agreement is part of the ongoing partnership between the School Board and the City in the City's Emergency Shelter program. As subsequently amended, the agreement places responsibility for design and construction of the retrofits upon the District.

Staff selected rojo Architecture, LLC and J. B. D. Construction, Inc. from the approved Continuing Services Consultants list to provide design and construction management services.  The scope of work provides for mechanical, structural, electrical, and architectural modifications required to make designated buildings at Forest Hills, Oak Park, and Tampa Bay Boulevard Elementary Schools usable as Emergency Shelters for City of Tampa First Responders in the event of a Category III hurricane or higher.  The work will also include modifications of the designated buildings for an emergency generator. Project completion is scheduled for October 3, 2011.

Approval of the Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) will establish the cost for the project.

Construction cost is warranted at $435,938.  The construction budget is $553,153.   The City of Tampa has agreed to reimburse the District for construction of the Project.  Therefore, there is no financial impact to the District.