School Board questions how architect was chosen
By Donna C. Gregory NEWS EDITOR

The Chesterfield School Board selected an architect last week to design a renovation for Falling Creek Middle School - but not before questioning why and how the firm was recommended by school personnel.

The decision to enter into negotiations with Moseley Architects to design the Falling Creek renovation seemed to be a pretty routine agenda item until county critic Brenda Stewart took issue with why the firm was being selected.

"The contracts seem to go with the same architects repeatedly," said Stewart, adding that she believes school personnel are preferential to firms that have previously worked on projects for the school system.

She also claims that two of the three top firms contending for the Falling Creek project have a business relationship with one another, and urged the School Board to adopted procedures to avoid the "appearance of impropriety."

Midlothian School Board representative Jim Schroeder said procedures were adopted a couple of years ago that eliminate school personnel from considering a firm's prior experience with the school system.

"We have received a number of comments from the public [about how contractors are chosen]," admitted Schroeder. "This is a great architect. That is not the issue. The issue is that everyone is getting a fair consideration to do work in Chesterfield County."

School Board members asked about Moseley's previous record with the school system. Moseley has only worked on one out of the 10 most recent school construction projects.

According to Bill Bridgforth, the school system's director of construction, eight firms

were considered for the Falling Creek project. That list was eventually narrowed down to three: Moseley, BCWH Inc. and Rancorn Wildman Architects.

"They all gave good presentations, [but] we felt that Moseley would be the one who would best give us what we needed there to revitalize that school," explained Bridgforth. "In the last five years, Moseley has built 55 percent of the middle schools in Virginia."

Stewart questioned why previous "negotiations" with Moseley are not part of the public record.

In response, Bermuda School Board representative Marshall Trammell Jr. said, "I think people get the idea that it's a pretty straightforward process. It is not. It leaves so much room for discussion."

The state's General Assembly sets guidelines for choosing contractors and allows for the school system to enter into negotiations with firms to determine the cost of services.

"I don't like the negotiation process," admitted Trammell. "I personally think it is not the best [process], but the General Assembly has not changed the process to help the school systems."

After several minutes of discussion, Dale District representative David Wyman reminded his fellow members that Falling Creek is currently utilizing 16 trailers and needs the renovation to relieve overcrowding. He suggested that the School Board look at the process more closely in the future, but asked members to move forward by allowing school personnel to negotiate architectural fees with Moseley.

"We need to get on with it just from a timing standpoint," urged Wyman. "Right now, we've got to get going."

Board members approved the measure unanimously.