M-P Board gets report about possible $1.2 million improvements to district buildings

By Mary Zielinski
Improvements to Mid-Prairie buildings, providing everything from a new roof at the middle school to an elevator at the high school, would total $1,207,486, the board learned at its meeting Monday. Details were provided by Shive-Hattery, Inc., of Iowa City, about three separate projects: chiller replacement at Kalona Elementary School; elevator addition at the high school, and roof replacement at the middle school.
The single most expensive is the roof, projected at $722,286 to be done in 2009-2010. There also is a three year plan, covering masonry improvements reroofing,that would total $423,540.
Mitchell R. Kelschen, roof and building envelope consultant, noted that project could be done over “a couple of years.” The board also was told about the Tremco Cooperative Purchasing Program. It was suggested the district consider bidding Tremco as a separate alternative when it seeks roof replacement bids.
Kelschen provided a preliminary bid schedule, all in 2009, that would see advertising for bids the week of March 16, a bid opening April 8, contract award April 13 and completion of construction August 7.
An elevator at the high school, to be built at the front of the building, is estimated at $352,000, replacing he current elevator that does not meet current handicap accessibility requirements, explained Tandi Dausener, project architect. The new elevator would blend with the building’s exterior facade and would be capable of accommodating a gurney in its cab. Proposed bid schedule was advertising for bids the week of April 20, opening bids May 18, awarding contract May 26 and seeing completion September 27.
The chiller replacement at Kalona Elementary School was labeled the “most urgent,” by engineer Tim Fuhr, noting that the current 30-year old system, already is five to ten years beyond its lifespan. The total project cost is $133,200. Doing part of the project could come in at about $95,000. Fuhr suggested advertising for bids the week of February 23, opening bids the week of March 16 and awarding the contract March 23. Construction would be done by August 7.
Superintendent Mark Schneider stressed the presentations Monday were “information only,” and that the issue will be discussed at the next board meeting in a work session. Another factor involved in the project is the district’s applying for a federal Harkin grant to finance much of the work.
The board will decide if any of the work will be done this summer, Schneider added.
In other business, the board:

• accepted the bid of $146,964 from Hoglund Business Company, Marshalltown, for two new diesel powered, video camera equipped school buses that will arrive in June. Financing is from the Physical Plant and Equipment Levy (PPEL)
• agreed to advertise for bids form firms to do the districtÕs annual financial audit. bids will be accepted until 1 p.m. March 3 with bid opening to follow immediately. The contract will be awarded at the March 9 board meeting
• approved four Alternative Learning Center graduates: Amber Short, Danielle Cobb, Sheyenne Chambers and Amber Fisher;
• accepted he resignation of middle school 7th grade social studies teacher Jay (John) Bickford, effective June 30
• learned that three of the district’s 12 school buses are now equipped with video cameras. The district received a $22,000 grant from the Washington County Riverboat Foundation to aid with the $44,250 project that will see cameras installed in all buses
• learned that Presidents Day, February 16, will be a snow make-up day. Schneider said if there are no more days loss, the three remaining days will be made up at the end of the school year, making June 2 the last day of classes
• tabled a report about the Special Talent Program to the next meeting
• approved a special education preschool associate position at Kalona Elementary School