Bids for work on the elementary school came in higher than expected, but the Eureka Springs School Board approved just over $400,000 for the project at Monday night’s meeting.
Josh Siebert, an architect with Modus Studios, told the board that “three good qualified bids” had been opened the previous Friday. A Fayetteville company was the apparent low bidder, and Siebert said he had worked with Legacy Construction Management before.
Legacy’s bid came in at $450,000, well over the $300,000 the board had estimated for the project. Siebert said the bid had included some optional items that could be postponed. He said the current project would focus on areas which benefit the most students, including the entryway, cafeteria, and flooring in the hallways.
Siebert said other schools are in the same position, trying to have work done during the summer. In response to a question from Board President Chris McClung, Siebert said he was confident Legacy could substantially complete the work in time for school. Some items might still need completion, but that work would not affect school functions. He also explained that the bid did not include penalties for failure to finish on time. Those provisions would have increased the bid prices, and Siebert said Legacy works often with schools, and the company “understands the urgency.”
Supt. Bryan Pruitt said the school could save $12,000 by purchasing flooring materials directly, rather than through Legacy or a subcontractor. An accordion wall between the cafeteria and the music room will cost $20,000 to replace, but the school can wait for that upgrade. Siebert said he had included it in this proposal because the rest of the cafeteria will receive new acoustic panels.
Pruitt said the school has enough money in the building fund, and he received board approval to negotiate with Legacy to bring the cost of the project below $410,000.
In other business:
- The annual legislative audit listed only one shortcoming, with the state recommending more levels of protection and additional personnel in finances.
- The board adopted purchasing cards which teachers can use to buy classroom supplies. Each teacher, by law, receives $500 annually for classroom purchases, and the cards will eliminate a lot of purchase orders and checks. The cards can only be used with selected vendors, and principals will still approve purchases. The school can also put money on a card if a teacher is traveling on school business.
- Meal prices will increase slightly in the coming year.
- The board adopted some small changes in the student handbook, including eliminating the exemption which allowed students with high grades to skip final exams after the first semester.