Tim Harder, director of facilities and technology for West Bend School District, briefed the school board on progress and next steps for several referendum-funded construction projects, focusing on McLean, Green Tree, Silverbrook, Badger and the planned new Jackson Elementary building.

Harder told the board that all academic windows at McLean are installed and that remaining work is concentrated around the gym area. At Green Tree Elementary, crews are replacing exterior doors and installing upgraded security hardware. Harder said those door replacements "will take the next 2 and 3 weeks" and include upgraded glass, locks and badge systems tied into PA and fire-alarm upgrades.

He outlined upcoming work at Badger and Silverbrook: partial locker-room and ADA shower updates and gym floor/bleacher replacement at Badger next summer, and a reconfiguration and addition of in-suite restrooms and new dedicated special-education space at Silverbrook. Badger’s work is planned as a summer project to minimize disruptions and to reclaim instructional space from underused shower rooms.

Harder spent most of his presentation on Jackson Elementary, which has reached the construction documents (CDs) stage. He said bidding is planned to open “late November through January” with construction intended to start in 2026. Harder described required municipal approvals: a rezoning application, a certified survey map to combine multiple lots, and a conditional use permit. He said the plan commission will review renderings, and that conditional-use approval would allow the district to finish construction documents and begin bidding.

Harder showed draft site and elevation renderings including a main entrance facing west with visitor parking, a long drop-off drive with room for about 60 cars in queuing, fenced learning/play courtyards, and separate bus drop-off and staff/maintenance service access. He said the district is exploring using the former firehouse and DPW building on the Jackson site for early demolition once permitting allows.

Harder identified Findorf as the district’s construction manager and said bids will be open to all contractors. He emphasized that CDs are still under review (HVAC, electrical, casework, finishes) and that small design tweaks are likely as the plan commission and village board provide feedback.

Board members asked about timeline risk; Harder said the key constraint is completing municipal approvals and getting bids early in the construction season so contractors are not fully booked. He said the district’s target remains to issue early bids in late November or early December to keep to the 2026 start schedule.

The board received the update; no formal vote was taken on these project items at the meeting.

Ending — The district will present the conditional-use permit to the plan commission and the rezoning/CSM application to the village board in the coming days; Harder said the district will return with updated timelines and bidding information after municipal actions are complete.