Wyoming Board approves $1.5 million demolition and abatement package for three primary schools

The Wyoming Board of Education at its August meeting approved a guaranteed maximum price (GMP) demolition and abatement package for three primary-school buildings, authorizing demolition bid awards intended to advance the district’s primary-facilities project. The board approved moving forward with a packaged demolition procurement that groups all three sites to obtain better pricing while the district will carry out abatement and demolition at each school on a staggered schedule. Nut graf: The package is an early construction-phase action tied to the district’s broader primary-facilities program; bundling demolition for multiple sites is intended to reduce cost per site and clear locations for subsequent construction or renovation work. Board members and staff said the contract will also allow one vendor to perform abatement work across the three sites, avoid duplicative mobilizations and keep the overall schedule on track. The package covers abatement and demolition work for three elementary-level sites, with a contract amount presented at approximately $1,500,000. District staff said the package is under initial budget estimates by about $58,000 (roughly 3.5 percent). The district will not demolish all three buildings at once; staff said work will be phased so that each site is cleared in sequence. As part of pre-demolition activity, a construction fence is expected to be erected within about one to two weeks after contract signing, and abatement work will be performed inside the buildings before exterior demolition proceeds. The district identified the contractor for the package as HCC, working with Salesforce Equipment Services for the abatement/demolition contract. Staff emphasized that significant planning and site logistics — moving classrooms, storing materials and preparing temporary space — preceded demolition. For example, Hilltop students are currently using Friendship United Methodist Church as temporary classroom space during the move. The board also noted interim uses of the sites: police and fire departments have been using at least one of the open buildings to run training drills before the fence erection. Discussion versus decision: discussion centered on scheduling, phased work, cost control and public expectations about visible progress at each site; the formal board action authorized the demolition/abatement GMP package and related contracting steps. Outcome and next steps: staff indicated they would finalize contract signatures and proceed with fencing and contractor mobilization; abatement and demolition will follow the phased schedule. The board-approved package was presented as the first major construction-phase contract for the district’s primary-facilities program.