Students will not move into Dugway’s new $18 million school this fall as previously planned, but will by the first of next year.
The building’s construction schedule was revised after the 2013 federal government shutdown lead to a delay in the start of construction, according to Scott Rogers, Tooele County School District superintendent.
“The government shutdown in the fall of 2013 coincided with the final approval of our grant and the bidding of construction for the school,” he said.
The shutdown came at a time when construction costs were rebounding after the recession. As a result the building’s original $15.8 million price grew to $18.8 million, according to Rogers.
The $3 million increase in construction costs lead to further delay as the school district had to obtain certification from the Tooele County Commission and Gov. Gary Herbert that no local funds were available to pay for the increased cost of construction.
With that certification in hand, the Department of Defense increased the original $13.2 million grant for the new building to cover the additional expense.
The school district will spend $2.6 million of its own money on the new 71,000-square-foot building.
“We ended up about six months behind in starting construction,” Rogers said. “Construction is now on schedule, but the schedule has changed.”
District officials expect the new high school to be completed in late October and in time for a community open house in November, according to Rogers.
“We will move into the building over the break in December and students will attend the new building in January 2016 when they return to school,” he said.
By the time students start school in the new building, four years will have elapsed since the DOD and the school district started a collaborative effort to replace the old Dugway High School.
The DOD completed a survey in 2010 of the condition of school buildings on military installations across the country. It prioritized the schools that needed to be replaced and started a new construction fund for the top 12 buildings in 2011.
Dugway High School, built in 1953, was ranked number 17 on the list.
But the school district was informed in January 2012 that the DOD had enough funding to go forward with the next 12 buildings on the list, including Dugway High School.
The DOD initially awarded the school district a $13.2 million grant for the $15.8 million building.
The DOD requirements for the grant required that the new building be built with at least the same square-footage as the old building, and have facilities comparable to other school buildings.
The current Dugway High School was built with an enrollment capacity of 300 students. The fall 2013 enrollment of Dugway High School was 65.
The school district will take advantage of the additional space in the new building and move Dugway Elementary students into one hallway of the new building, according to Rogers.
The combination of the two schools is expected to save the school district $300,000 annually in salaries and utility expenses, according to school officials.
Naylor Wentworth and Lund Architects, a Salt Lake City-based firm, was selected as the project architect and Hughes General Contractors was named as the general contractor.
The building concept includes, along with classrooms and a gym, a cafeteria, a commons area for students, offices for counselors, an auditorium and rooms for special education.
The old high school will be demolished once the new school is completed.
“Dugway School will be a 21st century facility, which will enhance the learning atmosphere for students preparing to enter a global marketplace,” said Robin Nielson, principal of Dugway High School, during the school’s groundbreaking ceremony last year. “It will be a hub of school and community events and will support the mission of Dugway Proving Ground.”