MONROE — Members of the Monroe School Board officially approved a contract with construction management firm CG Schmidt to conduct updates to Parkside Elementary School and Monroe Middle School in the upcoming summer months during their meeting Monday.
District Administrator Rick Waski said if the contract had not been approved during the meeting, work on the planned $3.36 million project would have needed to be postponed until summer 2020. Waski added that if the district were to wait until then, costs would likely increase past estimated expenses.
The recently passed referendum question allows the district to borrow the funds to pay for upgrades to Parkside’s energy systems, primarily its heating and ventilation, in addition to updates to the bathrooms to adhere to accessibility laws and the lighting within the library. At MMS, the district plans to upgrade each restroom to make them accessible for students with disabilities.
Dan Chovanec, the general manager of CG Schmidt’s western region in Madison, said during the meeting Monday that planners intend to begin the work June 8, the final day of school. However, initial work to remove the ceiling in Parkside will be done by CG Schmidt’s workers over spring break in March.
School board member Teresa Keehn questioned what the work with open, vaulted ceilings would look like and how it might affect classes. Chovanec said crews would work to ensure none of the staff desks or other items are disturbed and everything is cleaned before classes resume the following week.
Waski said without the earlier work, the project could not be completed over summer break, noting it as “an inconvenience” the district needs to “endure.”
“We’re going to guarantee that’s our last day of school,” he said.
Chovanec explained that the company has a strict schedule for the months leading up to and during the work. If necessary, the company and its subcontractors will “front-load” the work during the first months to ensure it will be completed by the planned date of Aug. 16.
The company plans to send out requests for project proposals in the first week of December and hopes to have a walkthrough completed of the schools with anticipated construction companies before Christmas, Chovanec said. Ideally, he noted, three offers from companies would be ideal for anticipated cost. The district would approve a design contractor in January and materials would be on hand to begin in early June.
Chovanec said the project has “good timing” because of upcoming referendum projects planned throughout the state after dozens succeeded during the Nov. 6 election. He said the district should be able to secure workers in a construction market likely to be “flooded” with requests for proposals for similar work.