February 15, 2006- For Immediate Release
Columbia County Schools - 6430 Pollards Pond Road, Appling, GA 30802
For more information contact 541-0650

Columbia County Board of Education’s Decision on Awarding Contract

to Build Evans Middle School is Validated by Supreme Court

The Columbia County Board of Education received notification on Monday that their decision on awarding the contract to build Evans Middle School (EMS) to McKnight Construction was unanimously upheld by the Georgia Supreme Court in its ruling on R.D. Brown vs. Board of Education of Columbia County.

“We were confident that the Board’s decision to award the contract to McKnight Construction, as the lowest bidder, was sound and this court ruling affirms that decision,” said Tommy Price, Superintendent of Schools. Almost a year ago, the Board awarded the contract to McKnight Construction whose bid was $59,000 less than the second lowest bid from R.D. Brown Contractors. Even though McKnight Construction had not included a list of subcontractors with the initial bid opening, the Board waived the subcontractor list as a technicality and awarded the contract to McKnight Construction, protecting taxpayer dollars. The Supreme Court ruled unanimously that the Board’s action followed within the bid guidelines and state law and was a technicality waived in the best interest of the Board. “It is not the case that every provision in an invitation for bids must be strictly followed; a governmental entity retains its statutorily granted power to waive technicalities,” wrote Justice Hines.

The State Board of Education agreed with Columbia County Board of Education to authorize the closing of the Evans Middle School facility on Washington Road and the reconstruction at a more suitable location, such as Hereford Farm Road. The new Evans Middle School is being constructed on Hereford Farm Road, along with a new central office administration building, and will be ready for students this August.

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