LEWISTOWN–In an important development for the Mifflin County School District, Superintendent Vance Varner laid out a comprehensive timeline for the proposed new multi-sports facility.
The plan was unveiled at a school board voting meeting on Thursday, providing the community with a detailed look at what they can expect in the coming months.
Varner’s timeline begins on August 17, 2023, with a pivotal board meeting. This session will serve as the launch pad for the project. The designs for the fields and field houses will be presented, offering the first glimpse into the potential look and feel of the facility.
The board will review bids for the project, including alternative bids, thereby setting the stage for the project’s financial groundwork.
A week later, on August 24, the board will vote on whether to release bids for the project. This decision represents a critical step in activating the project’s bidding phase and signifies a significant move toward making the project a tangible reality.
According to the timeline, the board will reconvene for another consequential meeting on October 19, 2023. During this assembly, they will review the project bids and decide which to accept or eliminate.
The meeting will also feature a community donation update by Joel Diamond and John Pannizzo, spotlighting the community’s involvement and investment in the project.
Following the review, on October 26, the board will make a critical decision – whether to approve the bids for the project. If given the green light, this decision will solidify the project’s financial structure, paving the way for the commencement of physical development.
“There is a little bit of misinformation about this project. We are going to review the bids and there are going to be numerous alternate bids,” Varner said. “This is not a guaranteed $15.05 million dollar project. I’ve said that from the beginning. Nothing has been approved yet. We will have plenty of discussions over the coming weeks. There is a little bit of urgency here because we have $3 million (grant money) that has to be spent by the end of 2024.”
The onset of onsite construction is projected to begin in December 2023 or January 2024, marking the transition from plans and blueprints into a physical edifice. Finally, according to Superintendent Varner’s timeline, construction is expected to conclude by October 2024.
While the approval and actualization of these steps are still to come, the timeline provides a roadmap for this ambitious endeavor. It offers transparency for all stakeholders and sets clear expectations for each stage of the project.
With this outline, the Mifflin County School District underscores its commitment to enhancing sports facilities for students and the community.
Multi-Sports Facilities Project Timeline Update
August 17, 2023: Board Meeting
· Presentation of Fields and Field Houses Design
· Review of Bids (Including Alternative Bids)
August 24, 2023: Board Meeting
· Board votes to approve the release bids for the project.
October 19, 2023: Board Meeting
· Review project bids
· Community donation update (Joel Diamond and John Pannizzo)
· Determine the cost of the project (Which alternative bids to accept or eliminate)
October 26, 2023: Board Meeting
· Board votes to approve bids for the project.
· December 2023 or January 2024: Begin onsite construction.
· October 2024: Construction Completed.
