Following other discussion of the schools’ future, and with the board having heard proposals for a new gymnasium and auditorium from several architects in the last two months, Renaissance Architects of Oklahoma City was selected at last week’s meeting to proceed with the proposed project.

Saying he wanted the decision to be made by the board, Glover pointed out the differences in estimates for the cost of the facility by the different architectural firms, which ranged from $68 per square foot to $115 per square foot. Fees charged by the companies were similar to each other – ranging from five and a half percent to six percent of the total project cost.

“Again my deal is why not our kids?” Glover said. “I don’t know why Newkirk kids shouldn’t have the very best, why Newkirk kids shouldn’t have nice things.”

Renaissance had proposed in preliminary plans a 25,581 square feet facility with an estimated cost of $1,549,650. Among all the companies considered, Renaissance had offered the lowest estimate for the facility.

Glover said the bonding company and architectural firm would now work together, “to find out how much money we would want to vote a bond on, if we did want to do it”.

Next, Glover said, “We’ll set a date and see if it’s something people would want to support.” He said he would again meet with an earlier established vision committee “for recommendations as far as changes.”