A-R to proceed getting QZAB bids
School board tours facilities to view projects slated for upgradesBy Michael Tidemann - Staff Writer
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Fact Box
Phase II projects
Architect Matthew Basye of FEH Associates of Sioux City presented a breakdown of the Phase II additions and renovations in a facilities tour before the Armstrong-Ringsted Board meeting.
Phase II includes:
n Replacing wardrobe lockers, $47,775.
n Renovating the existing high-school science room to a general purpose classroom, $53,140.
n Classroom furnishings and equipment, $5,000.
n Upgrading the family and consumer science classroom, $110,400.
n Family and consumer science furnishings and equipment, $20,000.
n Middle school science classroom renovations to a chemistry room for both the middle school and high school, $127,000.
n Furnishings and equipment for the chemistry room.
n Kitchen addition and renovations, $320,000.
n Kitchen equipment, $10,000.
n Asbestos abatement in the family and consumer science and science rooms and plumbing, $7,500.
n Architect and engineering fees, $65,800.
ARMSTRONG - The Armstrong-Ringsted Consolidated School District Board of Education Monday night agreed to proceed with specifications and bids for an estimated $781,615 upgrading of classrooms and the kitchen area at the Armstrong building.
The project would be paid for with $1 million in Qualified Zone Academy Bond (QZAB) money which the district received in July. The bonds will be repaid with district receipts from the state penny sales tax.
The district will actually only have to repay about $800,000 of the bond money since it is able to generate interest from the money. In addition, the district plans to apply for a $250,000 to $300,000 Harkin grant to use along with the QZAB dollars. The Harkin grant would cover about 25 percent of the project costs and could cover construction while QZAB money may cover just renovation.
The district has already spent $130,000 of the QZAB money to upgrade the utilities infrastructure, a project with a five- to seven-year payback. The upgrades for which the board agreed to proceed on bid specifications Monday night will address Americans With Disabilities Act issues, health codes, asbestos abatement and make facilities more efficient for students and staff.
Architect Matthew Basye of FEH Associates of Sioux City presented a breakdown of the Phase II additions and renovations in a facilities tour before the board meeting. (See shaded area at right).
The major building addition wou ld be north of the kitchen to expand the food prep area.
In presenting the preliminary drawings for the project before the regular board meeting, Basye said the plans were developed after consulting with teachers and staff about the greatest needs for building improvements.
Adding a science prep room will also free up space in the science room and conform to ADA accessibility and provide larger sinks. Other improvements include more computer stations in classrooms. Family and consumer science room improvements will allow sewing cabinetry to double as computer work stations.
Basye said the economic downturn has made contractors hungry so bidding should be competitive.
"There's a lot of interest. There's a lot of contractors coming from a lot of difference places," Basye said. He said bids coming in 10 percent under estimate "wouldn't be out of the ordinary."
Board member Jim Boyer questioned proceeding with the project now, considering ongoing discussions about whole-grade sharing and consolidation with neighboring districts.
"Are we overbuilding for the future? That's my concern," said Boyer.
Superintendent Randy Collins said QZAB money was from a program sponsored by the federal government and was based on the district's percentage of students receiving free and reduced lunches. He said money would be repaid with sales tax and the district would only have to actually repay $800,000 of the $1 million, with any interest earned going toward QZAB-qualified projects. Collins also said the district will receive an additional $180,000 form the state penny sales tax than it did previously. He also said facilities improvements will keep students in the district and draw other families into the district.
Boyer said the public perception was that the district was doing the project just because it could get free use of the money.
Collins pointed out that the $130,000 the district paid in climate control improvements will be repaid in five to seven years.
"I just want to make sure that people will know we're making our facilities better," said board member Jen VonBank.
Collins agreed.
"We want people to know that we're going to have some of the best science facilities in the region."
"I think we have to be attractive as a school," VonBank added.
Boyer suggesting waiting a year until the district knows more about the whole-grade sharing issue.
"Your costs will go up," observed Rod Foster, board president.
Basye admitted it would be hard to peg future construction costs.
"I think we're just putting the cart before the horse here," said Boyer.
"To me, this is almost a win-win situation," Collins said. He then asked Basye what percentage of overall fees would be included in going up to the bid phase.
"That's the majority of our work," Basye said.
After further discussion, the board unanimously approved moving forward to specifications and bids.
