Construction will begin Monday on what will soon be the new Troy Board of Education Central Office.

The Troy BOE met Friday morning to review and award construction bids, and by next summer, the board and central office employees should be housed in upgraded facilities.

Plans have been underway for some time to relocate the Central Office, which is currently on Elm Street.

Earlier this year, the Troy BOE purchased its new home from the city of Troy, and it will be located in the old Armory on Elba Highway.

Of the five bids, Whaley Construction provided the lowest totaled at $1,159,000.

Construction will include adding onto the front of the building to build a board office an conference room. The costs will also include asbestos removal and adding a men’s and women’s restroom in the facility.

The existing building, which has been vacant for around two years, will be gutted and renovated for office spaces for the finance department, testing, technology and child nutrition program employees.

The project will be funded by a $2.1 million bond issue provided by the state of Alabama in 2007. Monies were also used to make capital improvements on the Charles Henderson High School gym, and the remainder will build canopies and make other campus improvements at Charles Henderson Middle School and Troy Elementary School.

While the project has been approved at $1,159,000, the board may consider adding onto the construction.

Another bid was provided by Whaley, where for $50,000 more, they could make roof improvements to the building.

Initially, Troy City Schools Superintendent Linda Felton-Smith said she would not recommend choosing that option, in efforts to save more money.

However, board members were in support of investigating using extra expenses.

“Why wouldn’t we just do the roof now? Building materials are so cheap with the economy right now,” said Wally Lowery.

But, board members said if Felton-Smith decided it would be a wise option, she had their support.

“We realize $50,000 could come out of our reserve if we need it to,” said Roxie Kitchens.

Felton-Smith said she anticipates moving into the building by June 2010.