MONROE — General consensus among the majority of Monroe School Board members was to proceed with plans outlined by construction management firm CG Schmidt during the board meeting Monday at Monroe High School. 

Dan Chovanec, general manager of CG Schmidt’s western region in Madison, presented the plans to the eight board members who attended. Amy Bazley was absent. 

The timeline has already begun, Chovanec noted. The company organized a list of potential bidders for mechanical, engineering and plumbing needs. CG Schmidt focused on quality potential bidders, adding any potential local companies which Chovanec said planners felt might be able to undertake the project. 

Listed potential subcontractors include those in fire protection, plumbing, HVAC, electrical and design services. Local companies listed as potential bidders were Connors Plumbing, Rufer Refrigeration, Bruce Boiler Burner Equipment, PDC Electrical Contractors and Gentz Electric.

Chovanec said the ideal number of bidders would be three, but that the maximum should be around five to ensure the district receives the best estimate numbers. He added that because the project is being conducted as soon as possible, the district will win out in obtaining quality workers before other districts look to begin similar referendum-based improvements or the large FoxConn development begins retaining companies for work. 

Funding for the $3.36 million project was initially secured through a successful referendum question on the Nov. 6 ballot. After initially considering postponing the work until summer of 2020 with a waiver for a school year start date, the board instead agreed to proceed in summer 2019. 

During the meeting Monday, they also approved a resolution awarding the sale of the $3.36 million to be borrowed over two years to Woodford State Bank. District Administrator Rick Waski said when the district initially contacted Baird Financial of Milwaukee the day after the election, advisors said because the amount was below $5 million, the best route would not be to pursue a bond sale.

At that time, Waski said a bank in Utah, which had a 3.6 percent interest rate, was the most positive opportunity.

Baird suggested the district instead pursue options locally to possibly procure a better borrowing rate. Waski said the district was lucky to receive a competitive 3 percent interest rate on the loan through Woodford State Bank. He added that he was “pleased” to have a local institution provide project funding.

According to a timeline outlined by CG Schmidt and Plunkett Raysich Architects LLP of Madison, once approval from the board was received for the bidders list, Chovanec planned to walk through Parkside Elementary, where the majority of the improvements will take place.

The project scope largely focuses on heating and air conditioning upgrades for the school which currently runs on 28 small, commercial-sized furnaces. While the ceiling is open, the district decided to place energy-efficiency lighting in the building as well, and to upgrade bathrooms to make them more accessible for those with physical disabilities. Bathroom upgrades will also take place at the Monroe Middle School.

Chovanec still had to firmly schedule a walkthrough for some time before Christmas. The plans include approval of designs for the mechanical, engineering and plumbing by Jan. 14.

Architectural designs will be worked on through February while the MEP systems designs will begin once the mid-January approval takes place. The architectural bidders list should be approved by the board at the end of February with bidding taking place in March.

As previously discussed, Chovanec said demolition of the Parkside ceilings by CG Schmidt workers would happen over spring break, which begins March 25. He said the workers would investigate the space and possibly begin pre-fabrication by the end of that week. An additional break in the school schedule on April 19 should allow for more investigation work, he added. 

From April until the end of May, architects will take time to procure material. Workers will begin moving furniture around the end of May and construction will begin the final day of school, June 5. Plans call for finishing work around the first day staff returns, which is Aug. 26. 

Board members determined the first day of school to be Sept. 3 during the meeting Monday. Chovanec said work will be completed by that day.