Lewis Central Board Approves High School Vestibule Bid, Reviews Summer Construction and Facility Plans

The Lewis Central School Board approved construction and repair bids and heard a detailed facilities update July 21, including a public hearing on a proposed high school safety vestibule and parking-area work.

The board voted to award the high school safety vestibule addition and renovation contract to Elevate Construction for $1,355,948, below the project estimate the district had circulated. Trustees also approved repair work for the high school “black box” HVAC system, a track maintenance contract and the district’s radon mitigation plan.

During a public hearing on Iowa Code 26.12 for the public improvement project, district staff said engineer estimates had placed the building portion of the vestibule at about $1.5 million and that repaving/parking adjustments had been budgeted previously at roughly $200,000; together the staff described an all-in figure near $1.7 million. Architects provided construction drawings and the board authorized the bid specifications for formal bidding.

“Here is the schedule of drawings. It's essentially what it's gonna look like, and it will add a new entrance and a safety vestibule,” a district presenter said during the hearing. The plans call…