Main construction price set

Oconee school trustees have approved a guaranteed maximum price on the project to build a new high school…sort of. Trustees last night were unanimous in designating most of the proposed $55 million guaranteed maximum price tag for the new Walhalla High School. But left aside, for the time being, is how much to spend on athletic facilities. District Five trustee Buddy Herring, who has raised questions about the costs proposed for sports facilities, said he would like to take “two to three weeks” to consider those costs further. District Two’s Rosemary Bailes expressed concern that the district’s 2015 timetable for opening the school could be delayed. To help alleviate concerns about sports costs, Dr. Michael Thorsland, assistant superintendent for operations, offered to arrange visits by board members to similar new high school projects in Pickens County. And Herring said, he for one, would welcome that.