April-May to be key months for new WHS

Oconee School District still awaits the guaranteed maximum price for its first new high school construction in more than 20 years. Dr. Michael Thorsland, assistant superintendent for operations, told the county board of trustees to expect the guaranteed maximum price at its meeting early next month, to be followed in May by start of the actual construction of the new Walhalla High School. The project has been estimated around $50 million. Speculation, however, has been driving the figure higher. Thorsland also told the trustees that other costs are factoring into the overall bill, such as what nearby private property owners are being paid for surrendering rights-of-way, along with an estimated $70 thousand to cover the costs of disturbing what Thorsland called a small piece of wetlands.