GALLIPOLIS — Initial bids for general trades construction on the new River Valley and South Gallia high schools have been rejected by the Gallia County Local Board of Education and new quotes will be solicited from contractors.

Rebidding will be done this fall when a “better bidding climate” exists, pushing the opening of the new high schools beyond their anticipated completion prior to the start of the 2008-09 school year.

The board unanimously approved a resolution to reject the bids based on a review of the quotes and the scope of work with Fanning, Howey and Associates, the board’s Dublin-based architect. The resolution postpones the rebidding and revises the drawings and specifications to “prepare a bid package for sitework and an earthen dam” for the SGHS project. That portion of the work at South Gallia can be bid sooner once the specifications are completed by the architect, with a target date of June set for a bid opening.

The action was taken at Monday’s regular board meeting and the board’s decision was relayed to the architect by e-mail after the meeting.

Asked if seeking new quotes for building trades work will delay the opening of the new schools, Dr. Charla Evans, Gallia County Local’s superintendent, believes it will.

“In my opinion, it will delay the opening of these schools from the beginning of the school year in 2008,” she said.

Both schools may be ready to move into by early 2009, Evans added.

Bids for the new Gallia Academy High School came in well above the construction estimate in February, prompting the Gallipolis City Board of Education to review its specifications and readvertise the project. School officials believe the new GAHS should be ready by late 2008 or early 2009.

Ground was broken for the new River Valley and South Gallia last November, a year after the passage of a 7.4-mill bond issue to finance their construction and improvements to Gallia County Local’s grade schools.

After reviewing the resolution to reject bids Monday, board member Mike Polcyn moved for approval and was seconded by Scott Williamson.