The groundbreaking for the new Southern High School building was held on Friday morning, with the building construction to begin next week. Pictured are (front row, from left) Scott Diesler, SHP Architect, Garrett Karr of Kinsale Corporation, Rick Swart from the Ohio School Facilities Commission, Bryce Clawson, Construction Manager from Hill International, Board of Education Vice-President Dennie Evans, Board of Education President Peggy Gibbs, Racine Council member Dale Hart, Board of Education member Dennie Hill, OAPSE President Tom Theiss, Southern Local Treasurer Roy Johnson, and Home National Bank President Bill Nease; (back row) Southern High School Principal Daniel Otto, Superintendent Tony Deem, and Southern Elementary Principal Kent Wolfe.

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What used to be a playground at the elementary school is now a construction area for the new Southern High School, which will connect to the current Southern Elementary building.

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RACINE — Let the work begin.

With the turn of a few shovels on Friday morning, work officially began on what will become the new Southern High School.

A contract with Kinsale Corporation in the amount of $10,635,641 for the construction project was approved on June 12 during a special meeting of the Southern Local Board of Education.

The base bid by Kinsale Corporation was $10,522,806 — slightly over the revised estimated cost of $10,500,000.

In addition, nine of the possible 16 alternates were selected. Alternates for the project which will be completed, are the outdoor classroom ($23,577); decorative fence ($14,125); polished concrete in lieu of VCT in lobby ($15,600); convection oven ($10,400); convection steamer ($13,776); open front display coolers ($20,000); cashier stations ($9,077); water line to existing high school portion to remain ($3,100); and sound turret ($3,200).

Friday’s official groundbreaking come just less than 23 months after the passage of the bond issue/maintenance levy which was required for the local portion of the project.

The local match required for the project is 25 percent, with 75 percent coming from the state. The bond issue/maintenance levy was passed during an August 2010 special election.

The construction, which will build onto the existing Southern Elementary building, is to be completed by August 2013.

Early site work has been taking place over the past few weeks, and is being completed by Eclipse Company, LLC. The early site work includes ground work, drainage, and utilities.