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District improvement projects going out to bid
Almost a year after voters passed a $40.8 million school bond issue to make district-wide improvements at USD 234, bids are expected to be coming in soon for the first phase of projects at all district schools.
The USD 234 Board of Education heard information on timelines and the bid process regarding upcoming school bond projects during its Monday meeting. Steve Bennett, senior project manager and representative of Nabholz Construction Services of Olathe, the construction manager for the bond projects, and Ed Carlson of Hollis and Miller Architects of Overland Park, were present to provide information to the board.
Board members also viewed plans and drawings for the upcoming projects, which were explained by Michael Patrick and Meaghan Williams of Hollis and Miller.
In November 2014, the bond issued passed by a final vote of 2,237 to 1,753. The vote followed a lengthy bond campaign and work by a bond committee to inform voters about the proposed plans to make several district-wide safety and security improvements at all district schools and the stadium, Frary Field. Improvements at the stadium and demolition of the former Juco wing at Fort Scott High School were completed earlier this year.
"It's the one-year anniversary and here we are going out to bid," Carlson said.
During the meeting, Bennett said upcoming projects, which include secure entries and high-wind shelters at Fort Scott Middle School, a new auxiliary gymnasium, science wing and high-wind shelters at FSHS, as well as the cafeteria and wind shelters at Winfield Scott and Eugene Ware elementary schools, have been out for bid for about a week.
Bennett said there was "great participation" by contractors and prospective bidders during a recent pre-bid meeting in Fort Scott. He said a goal is to possibly start foundations at the high school by Dec. 7.
"I'm as anxious as you to get started," Bennett said to the board. "I think we're on our way to a successful project. It will take about a week to look at the bids."
Current plans are to have final bids by Nov. 19 for all exterior work, including earthwork, utilities, footings, foundations, slab on grade, site concrete, perimeter walls, glass and roof to complete exterior shells on all four district buildings. Final bids for interior work such as paint, sheet rock, flooring and finishes are expected by Nov. 24, USD 234 Superintendent Bob Beckham said.
Beckham said bids will be reviewed when they come in and awarded bids will be brought before the board at a later date. The hope is to start project work by early to mid-December. The board's next regular meeting is Dec. 14.
"As soon as we open bids and identify successful bidders, we may call a special board meeting to approve contracts and have people start to work," he said.
Beckham said about 50 contractors, including local companies, attended a recent pre-bid meeting for an opportunity to "clarify and ask questions about the plan." He said a meeting between district officials, the architect and construction manager was planned "to have dialogue with bidders and finalize an accurate timeline." He said officials will have a better idea on a timeline for projects when bids come back.
"If bids come back right, they will start as soon as possible after that," he said.
Officials have made the new school building at the high school the first priority to try to lessen the time displaced teachers at the high school will be inconvenienced.
Beckham said contractors may bid on entire projects or parts of projects, depending on the contractor, and projects will be broken up into various bid packages. He said a goal is to get foundations and footings laid "before a hard freeze."
"The pace is going to pick up. We're hoping for a favorable winter," he said.
Beckham said future projects in the school bond issue include classroom remodels and continued technology upgrades in the summer of 2016 "when kids are out of classrooms." He said about $3.2 million has been set aside for tech upgrades as part of the projects.
"The bulk of the projects is coming up," he said. "We're excited about the time to gain momentum and start doing more work."
Beckham said Nabholz has the safety of staff and students in mind while preparing for construction projects to take place during the school year.