DeFUNIAK SPRINGS — Tentative plans for the new Walton Middle School continue to progress.
After two hours of presentations and discussions Monday, the Walton County School Board opted to move forward with a projected budget of about $35.3 million. Included in the amount are construction costs, temporary relocation costs and new furniture and equipment.
“I think this is worst case scenario,” Facilities Director Mark Gardner said of the cost. “I hope it comes in substantially lower.”
Since the last discussion, an agreement was reached on the school’s overall design including the sports fields, which were a point of contention previously.
When all is said and done, only two of the existing buildings will remain. The final product will be a combination of practicality and safety, with a nod toward the historic neighborhood surrounding the school, according to Brad Innes, who has overseen Elliot Marshall Innes’ design for the project.
The school will be 159,500 gross square feet and will have 148 parking spaces. Room will be left to handle future growth.
Work will begin after school ends in May and conclude in a little less than two years, based on the latest projections, Gardner said.
The goal is to return students to the site in August 2016.
While construction is underway, Walton Middle’s students and staff likely will move to the old Walton High School, or Wise Center as it is now called.
Details of the move and how it will impact the Wise Center still must be worked out.
Contact Daily News Staff Writer Katie Tammen at 850-315-4440 or ktammen@nwfdailynews.com. Follow her on Twitter @KatieTnwfdn.