COLUMBUS — Southern Local School District in Meigs County is the first-state funded project to use general contracting for construction in the Classroom Facilities Assistance Program. The project is being financed by a combination of state and local funding through the Ohio School Facilities Commission (OSFC) and includes a new high school addition to the existing Southern Elementary School.

“In 2011, the Ohio General Assembly made the first changes in the state’s method of performing public construction in over 134 years,” said OSFC Executive Director Richard Hickman. “These changes, collectively known as Ohio Construction Reform, allow for the use of alternative construction delivery methods that are faster, more flexible and, in many instances, delivered at a lower cost. I commend Southern Local School District for deciding to take advantage of the benefits that general contracting will bring to this project.”

Ohio Construction Reform retains the multiple-prime design-bid-build project delivery method, but gives public owners a number of other project delivery options including general contracting (single prime), design-build and construction manager at risk.

The general contractor is Kinsale Corporation of Pomeroy, Ohio. The firm was awarded the $10.6 million contract through a competitive bid process.

According to Hickman, more than a dozen other school districts are considering using one or more of the alternative construction delivery methods because they can reduce construction costs and get students into new buildings more quickly. Hickman added, “The Commission encourages school districts to use any of the alternative delivery method options that help them build quality facilities on time and on budget.”