VIDEO: Monroe Schools Study Options for Domes

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MONROE COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) — Tornado-proof domes for Hatley and Hamilton schools will be delayed just a little.

Monroe County school leaders opened bids three weeks ago on the 7,000-square-foot domes that double as gymnasiums and tornado shelters.

But the low bid from Century Construction came in at about $2.4 million dollars, considerably higher than the $1.85 million estimate and the grant sought from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Superintendent Scott Cantrell, architects and Century Construction will sit down Wednesday to try to find cost savings that don’t impact safety and still meet FEMA regulations. They hope to have options to present to the school board Thursday for approval so the projects can move forward.

The district hopes to have the domes open by the time school starts this fall.

The domes are similar to those opened recently at rebuilt high schools in Smithville and East Webster. Century Construction built the one at Smithville High.