Video: One North MS School Accepts Bids On New School

HOULKA, Miss. (WCBI) — It’s been two years since a fire destroyed several classrooms at Houlka Attendance Center, now plans are moving forward with building a new school.

On Thursday, the Chickasaw County School Board trustees looked at eight bids from contractors to come in and build the new school

Chickasaw County School District Superintendent Dr. Betsy Collums said most of the bids were close to the district’s budget for the project.

Collums said McCarty King Construction Company had the lowest bid, and is a top contender,  however she said board members are still deciding who they want for the project.

The district will first have to meet with an architect, a consultant, and an insurance company to discuss and review the details.

For the second year in a row, the district is using a mobile classroom to fit some of its students.

Houlka is a small town and the school plays a big role in that community, which is why board members are eager to start the process of building the new school.

“Our community is anxiously awaiting the new school,” said Dr. Collums. “We’ve worked hard the past two years to try and get everything in place, and I think it’ll just be a big boost to our whole community to have a new school because the school is the hub of our community here.”

The board hopes to have a contractor selected by its next meeting on September 6th.