Garling awarded Belle Plaine school construction project

By JUDY SCHLESSELMAN, Star Press Union reporter

Bids for the Belle Plaine School Project

Renovations and additions to Longfellow Elementary and the high school should soon be underway after the Belle Plaine Board of Education awarded the school construction project to Garling Construction of Belle Plaine. Action came at the board’s regular meeting June 11.

Garling’s base bid of  $8,819,630 was the lowest of seven bids the district received June 4. It does not include three alternate projects at the high school that would add approximately $500,000 to the total cost: renovation of the science room, an all-weather track and athletic storage room.

With alternates and other fees, the total bid exceeds the architect’s estimate by about $500,000, leaving school administration and Struxture Architects looking for places to trim the cost so alternates could be included.

Architect John Darveau presented the board a list of possible cost saving measures he compiled after bids were opened. Included were changes in wall and floor coverings, cabinets and lighting options at both schools.

“We’re going to take a look at everything and find anything that’s out of the ordinary, and come back to you with a price. My goal is to get as much out that is painless and won’t hinder the construction of the building, or long-term maintenance of the building. The things that won’t affect you are the things we’re going to lean heavily towards,” Darveau assured the board.

Garling Construction agreed to hold the alternate bids 90 days while the architects and school administration review cost-saving options.

Superintendent Bill Lynch told the board additional funding for project fees is available through the Physical Plant and Equipment Levy (PPEL), as well as $300,000 from the general fund.

Darveau and Lynch both recommended the board not wait to award the contract to Garling Construction. “Garling is ready to get started, and I don’t think we want to delay them,” Darveau stated.

Dan Dahlgren, Garling Construction estimator/assistant project manager emphasized, “We made a big push from the beginning that this is our town. When we put this together, we put it together for all the right reasons. All the workers that are going to be on this project are, for the most part, Garling employees whose kids go to school here.”

The board also approved a $59,838 contract with Hockenberger’s Equipment, Des Moines, for kitchen equipment.

The board revisited previous discussions about the possible need for additional classroom space at Longfellow to accommodate large kindergarten classes the next two years.

Director Jim Pierce presented what he termed a “viable alternative” to a potential classroom shortage at Longfellow: move the administrative offices to the junior high, which will be vacant after the construction project, and convert the Longfellow boardroom back into two classrooms. Pierce offered this as a possible solution to classroom shortage; the board took no action.

Personnel

The board accepted resignations from Todd Bohlen as junior high softball coach for 2010 and Greg Walton as eighth grade basketball coach effective immediately. Both cited time demands as reasons for their resignations.

Angel Brecht was hired as a third grade teacher. Brecht formerly taught the district’s Talented and Gifted program and was a substitute teacher in recent years.

The board approved a $6,000 building head contract for Cherie Brown for the upcoming school year. Recommending the contract, Lynch said Brown’s salary could be increased during the year if the position expands to include more workdays or duties.

School Fees

Student fees for the 2009-2010 school year were approved. Upon Lynch’s recommendation, lunch fees will increase by 10 cents to $1.80 for elementary, $1.90 for secondary and $2.45 for adults. Breakfast will remain $1.05 for elementary/secondary and $1.20 for adult.

Other fees will remain unchanged. Registration for elementary will be $34.50, secondary $47.50, preschool $70/$50. Elementary activity tickets will be $25; secondary $35. Locker and towel (secondary only) will be $20.

High School Student handbook changes

Principal Dennis Phelps presented changes he recommends to the 2009-2010 high school handbook after receiving staff and student council input.

Most are minor changes or clarifications of current policy. Attendance and academic eligibility will be based on academic quarters.

Phelps said a student survey was completed on cell phone use. The handbook outlaws cell phone use during class, study hall, certain school-sponsored activities and during passing time. Use during lunch periods may be allowed.

Phelps said iPods, Mp3 players or other electronic listening devices may be allowed in study hall if others do not hear them.

Other business

In other business, the board approved the following insurance providers for the 2009-2010 school year: property casualty, EMC through the Drahn Insurance Agency; healthcare, Wellmark through the Iowa Educators Group and Mercer of Cedar Rapids; disability, Lincoln Financial through Mercer and life, Ft. Dearborn through Mercer.

Also approved was a $50 reimbursement to parents of children attending the summer College for Kids program.

UPDATED June 12, 2009 4:58 PM