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Work on the Thomaston-Upson Performing Arts Center (PAC) is proceeding on schedule and slightly under budget, according to a report Facilities Director Mike Majors gave to the Board of Education at their meeting on Nov. 13. Board member Miriam Elsey was absent.

Majors said the PAC is on schedule to be completed sometime in May 2013.

“We have not had any change orders. We’re on budget, and might be below budget, not much, but we did do some things with the electrical systems that could possibly pick us up a few dollars,” said Majors.

“We also last week called a couple of design committee members in, and they picked colors for the auditorium. There also some interior design representatives from Manley, Spangler, Smith (the architects), so everything is going well there.

“They are fixing to get started on the inside, putting the inside ceiling up. That should be about a six-week project. They are also still laying brick.”

Majors also asked the board for approval to start the planning phase of two education SPLOST projects.

“The big one will be the HVAC project at Upson-Lee North Elementary School,” said Majors. “We have some state capital outlay money for that, and when we get through with the project, I’ve already talked to Ms. Matthews about the financing, and we’ll get reimbursed from the state about $500,000 on that project.”

Budgeted from SPLOST for the HVAC project is $827,445. With the projected state capital outlay money that is expected to reimburse the school system, the local project cost will be about $300,000.

“The only other major project that we have coming up for next summer would be the high school gymnasium bleachers,” added Majors. “We’d like to replace those. If we get through this year with them, we’ll be doing good.”

A total of $160,000 in SPLOST funds have been budgeted for replacing the bleachers in the Upson-Lee High School gymnasium.

Board member Jacqueline Hollis made a motion approving moving forward on the two projects. Board member Keith Rohling seconded the motion and it was approve, 6-0.