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CHAMPION -- Trumbull Career and Technical Center officials will seek new bids for a planned equestrian barn after bids came in much higher than expected.
"We will be rebidding the project and see what happens," Superintendent Jason Gray said.
Gray said the program has the instructor and students leave the main classroom building and walk to the barn, where they take care of horses and other animals. He said there is no heat in the barn and also no classroom space. There also is an indoor riding arena and an outdoor arena.
Gray said officials would like to see a new barn with heated stalls, restrooms, a classroom area and running water.
"We are looking out for the program because it is always filled to capacity," he said.
He said students have to come back to the main building to use the restrooms and get a drink.
"It is time to bring that building into the 21st century," he said, noting the current barn was built in the 1980s.
The board previously approved PSA Architecture as the criteria architect for the new equestrian facility at $28,100.
PSA Architecture also was approved as observation / project administrator at $6,500.
Officials said the current barn will be used for equipment storage after the new building is completed.
The new barn would be in the area where the outdoor riding arena is now.
"It will be right next to the other barn, and will be able to connect the two buildings, with the horses able to be brought through," Gray said.
Treasurer Cody Holecko said the project may be able to be completely covered by state funds as part of career tech funding in the state budget bill.
"We believe we can apply for some of these funds since the project has not started and no ground has been broken. It helps that we have a criteria architect in place to draw up plans to get the process started," Holecko said.
CULINARY ARTS
The center's new culinary arts program and restaurant upgrade, which opened in August, did not qualify for the funding because that project began last year.
The new kitchen cost around $1 million and replaced the 40-year-old kitchen, officials said.
The culinary arts academy combines the former restaurant services and hospitality programs. Students use the restaurant with the original equipment and floor from when it opened in the late 1970s.
Officials have said the two programs were combined because the hospitality program, which focuses on travel and tourism, is not in demand as it used to be. The culinary arts program, however, is one of the first to close enrollment because so many students sign up.
The hope is that the restaurant can open to the public again after the remodel is completed. The culinary program has between 35 and 40 students, and a larger kitchen and more space could increase enrollment to 50 or more.