Buckeye ranks design firms for capital improvement project

YORK TWP. — Buckeye Schools will soon negotiate a design services agreement for its capital improvement program, which will build a new high school and renovate the existing high school for junior high students. The Buckeye Board of Education passed a resolution to rank design firms and allow Superintendent Jeff Stanton and Treasurer Mark Donnelly to negotiate contract terms with GPD Group for the project during its meeting Monday. Stanton said that if the district cannot reach a fair contract with its No. 1 firm, it would continue to go down the list. GPD Group was ranked first, with BSHM Architects Inc. in second place, The Collaborative in third and Fanning and Howey following. "We had some major players in the architect world bid for the job," he said. "GPD Architecture, ultimately, was the overwhelming choice for the team to see if we can move forward." Board member Seth Kujat said GPD offers the most in-house services of the architecture firms that bid for the project. GPD has also worked with the most districts close to Buckeye. "GPD took what they learned from us the week prior, and they presented some very relevant renditions of things that could get us excited as a community," he said. The district will continue creating the visioning process for the project, which will include students, staff and the overall community, Stanton said. "We want everybody to have a voice," he said. "We're going to remain true. We'll be on budget. We will be on time." The Buckeye Board of Education approved a self-funded plan to address facility concerns within the district in August. For more information about the project, visit tinyurl.com/4ew4fpev. "This is an extremely exciting step moving forward," Stanton said. "This facility is being driven by the curriculum needs of our students. Not only today, but our future students." Contact reporter Madisyn Woodring at (330) 721-4049 or mwoodring@medina-gazette.com.