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At a special meeting on Feb. 27, the School Board approved the awarding of bids to both GC Commercial, Inc. and Trane U.S., Inc. for the renovation of the former Children’s Center to the Innovation Center. Additionally, the Superintendent’s proposed 2025-2026 budget was presented to the Board.

Innovation Center 

During the January School Board meetings, Superintendent Dr. John B. Gordon III previously discussed the need for an Innovation Center to house 16 instructional staff currently located at Booker T. Washington Elementary School. 

The staff must be relocated because the space they are currently occupying is needed for the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) Academy.

Final bids for the estimated construction costs have been received, with the winning bid coming from GC Commercial, Inc. for $773,444.46, which includes a quote from Trane for $205,427 to replace the HVAC system.

After a nearly hour-long discussion, all Board members except Dawn Marie Brittingham, Ed.D., voted to award the bid to GC Commercial.

A few Board members expressed concerns about whether the Innovation Center deserves priority over other projects in the division. 

Echoing concerns he brought up in a previous meeting, Board Member Tyron Riddick said he understands the need for the Innovation Center, but he’s “uncomfortable” with it.

“This is something that has been brought to our attention fairly recent, and I’m wondering if there’s any other buildings that are in ready-made condition that we can move into,” he said.

Gordon responded to Riddick’s concern by explaining how the mobile units on Freeney Avenue — which Riddick specifically asked about using for admin office space — have been found to be “beyond use” and will collapse if they are moved. 

“This was the only real property that we had that was available that we felt that, because we already own, would be the best case for renovation,” Gordon said, emphasizing that because SPS was already leasing the building, he doesn’t see a need to use city funds to purchase another building. 

Vice Chair Sean McGee wanted to know why this project is considered a priority over others. He requested two other ways to solve the challenge of relocating the staff and asked that Board members prepare a list of unfunded items so, as a Board, they can prioritize what any extra money goes toward at the end of the year.

Gordon said it will be difficult to supply that list because he doesn’t know until April or May what kinds of projects need to be done. He added that the Innovation Center is a priority because in order for it to be finished by the end of the summer or early fall, they need to order the equipment as soon as possible. 

Chief Financial Officer Wendy Forsman explained that the renovations would be paid for with money left over from the budget, which is usually 1%-2%. If they don’t have enough money to cover the full project, she said they would only fund the portion that would happen before June 30 with current year funds, and then obligate funds to complete the rest of the project from next year’s budget.

Besides a new HVAC unit, Gordon said the other most-needed renovation in the current building is the bathroom facilities. Because the building used to be a childcare facility, the bathrooms are made for young children, he said, and would be very difficult for adults to use.

The Board also unanimously approved a bid award to Trane U.S. Inc. to replace the HVAC rooftop units at the Innovation Center.