School bond project on target with budget

The USD 234 Board of Education heard some positive news Tuesday about the district's ongoing school bond projects and also approved the next wave of projects.

Steve Bennett, senior project manager for Nabholz Construction Services of Olathe, and Ed Carlson with Hollis and Miller Architects of Overland Park, updated the board on the status of the district's $40.8 million school bond projects.

"I have some good news for you," Bennett told the board. "We're in the budget. And that's a collaborative effort."

The board also approved the next round of bid packages for what Bennett called the "second and last package of the job." He said he hopes to make periodic reports on the status of the projects to the board.

"And we've not sacrificed any value of the project," Bennett said. "There are no changes to the original scope of the project ... This is bringing it within the bond total that was approved."

USD 234 Superintendent Bob Beckham also said prior to the meeting that "we're within budget." He said footings and foundation will be poured before metal panels are put up as part of the new structures.

"They're putting footings and foundations in now," he said. "I think by the end of the week, they'll be active at all four sites doing that. They're getting the sites ready for footings and foundations. There is work going on every day."

The board approved releasing Nabholz and Hollis and Miller to proceed with key items related to the "balance" of the project for construction of high-wind shelters, a new auxiliary gymnasium and construction of two new math rooms at the high school.

The total amount for the packages is about $6.6 million and costs range from $31,890 for theater and stage equipment to $1.2 million to renovate the existing auditorium at the high school and $1.2 million for tile and commercial flooring.

"This is the next wave of work," Beckham told the Tribune.

Other items on the list include final cleaning, finishing carpentry, roofing, flashing and sheet metal, installation of doors and coiling doors, supply of overhead coiling doors, wood and athletic flooring, painting and wall covering, building specialties, food service equipment and installation, athletic equipment, seating, fire suppression, and fencing and gates.

Beckham said after a recent update meeting with the architectural firm and Nabholz, additional contracts have been issued for the $25 million in ongoing site work at all four schools and construction of the shells of future structures such as high-wind shelters, secure entries and a new one-story high school math and science wing.

Companies awarded bids are the Felix Thompson Co., of Fort Smith, Ark., for doors, frames and hardware, and Hoppers Glass of Wichita for glass and glazing. Nabholz will perform the work for underground utilities.

Bennett said one issue Nabholz is trying to address at the high school is "to provide adequate capacity for water drainage." He also said there is "no set date" for work to begin on renovation of the high school auditorium but work should begin "soon."

Construction fences are in place at all four schools as safety measures during the construction process.

Other business

* Beckham and the board briefly discussed a situation that occurred Feb. 19 when a reportedly unmarked underground main electrical line was struck during site construction at Winfield Scott School, causing a power outage and the school to be evacuated. Beckham commended staff at Winfield Scott and Eugene Ware School for working together to take care of students while the emergency was handled. He also said he was thankful there were no injuries in the incident.

"It was great to watch those staffs work together," he said. "We were building a building over a power line. That could have caused a myriad of problems."

Beckham told the board he plans to get exact answers on what happened at the site and report his findings later to the board.

"I've asked a lot of questions ... to see how that happened," Beckham told the Tribune. "Nabholz became very proactive and did some more extensive testing to ensure it didn't happen again."

Board members Gary Billionis, Janet Braun and Michelle Parker said during the meeting they were pleased with how the situation was handled by staff, students and parents.