$10 million GHS lawsuit settlement check on its way

The Cherokee County School District expects to receive the $10 million from its Gaffney High construction lawsuit settlement by the end of the week.

Representatives from the school district, Gaffney High bonding company USF&G Surety and the project’s designer, the architectural firm Martin, Boal, Anthony and Johnson, have signed the settlement agreement of a 2003 lawsuit involving the Gaffney High construction project, superintendent Dr. Bill James said Tuesday. USF&G Surety provided the performance bond for Gaffney High contractor Mitchell Construction.

“It’s a done deal,” James said. “We are just waiting for the money to arrive. It should be here by the end of the week.”

The settlement agreement calls for the money to be used for Cherokee Masonry to repair all masonry defects at Gaffney High School. Almost all of the outside brickwork will have to be replaced, a task which is expected to take a year to complete. A section of the gymnasium roof will also be replaced.

Any remaining amount from the $10 million settlement will be used to reimburse the district for money it has already spent repairing the school. District figures show that the district has spent $4 million from its budget on Gaffney High School repairs.

The terrazzo floor, stairwells, and roof are among the areas which have been extensively repaired since the school opened in August of 2000.

School board chairperson Sandra Greene said a press conference will be scheduled soon to discuss the Gaffney High School settlement, which was approved by board members Nov. 2.

The settlement does not include money for the district to move forward with a proposed design concept from Spartanburg architects McMillan Smith for the Gaffney High front entrance, finance director Jim Bridges said. This design would involve adding pitched roofs over the main canopy and front entrance, a logo tower and low railings along the roof to give the school a more eye-catching appearance. No cost estimates have been presented on the proposed design.

The school board approved a $33.3 million bond issue last month to finance a new building program. The bond issue will fund a Blacksburg High ninth grade academy, new Limestone Learning Center, Blacksburg High stadium renovations and a new field house, a new Gaffney High football stadium, a Gaffney High ninth grade addition and a 6-classroom addition at Goucher Elementary.

The Davis and Floyd architectural firm in Greenville is in the process of developing the final design for the Blacksburg High ninth grade addition, Southern Management principal architect Tom Baldwin said. Architects have started meeting with school officials to determine what will be included in the other building projects.