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East Elementary surge prompts classroom renovation; board approves $699,621 bid and letter of intent
Summary
With East Elementary enrollment higher than projections, the board approved a $699,621 renovation contract and a letter of intent allowing the contractor to begin purchasing materials; district leaders said the work will add classrooms and office space but that capacity will remain constrained next year.
The Vestavia Hills City Schools Board of Education approved a $699,621 bid to CT General Contractors LLC for renovations to the old cafeteria at Vestavia Hills Elementary East and authorized a letter of intent allowing the contractor to begin purchasing materials ahead of a final contract.
Superintendent remarks to the board said East Elementary’s official enrollment that year was 724 students but that current enrollment had risen to 808. District staff reported grade‑level averages for grades 2–5 at about 26 students per classroom and said East had 64 kindergartners this year with roughly 44 kindergarten enrollments already recorded for next year. The superintendent said the renovation will add a couple of classrooms and some office space to help accommodate the growth over the summer but that the school is near capacity and the district will need to consider longer‑term options.
Board members approved the CT General Contractors bid for $699,621 by motion and voice vote, then approved a letter of intent to allow the contractor to start ordering materials and long‑lead items so work can proceed quickly over the summer. District staff said the board received the bid on the preceding Thursday and that the letter of intent was needed because a full contract could not be executed in the short procurement window before summer work must begin.
The superintendent told the board that, although the renovation will provide additional classroom capacity, the district is “maxed out” at East and that future conversations about rezoning or more substantive capacity changes are likely in the coming year. The board did not take any rezoning action at the meeting; members said they would continue planning and try to ensure all students currently zoned to East can be served in the coming school year.
Board members also heard that facilities director and project reviewers had reviewed the bid and did not raise objections; one board member confirmed the district would proceed with the renovation planning and summer schedule.
Votes at a glance - Approve bid from CT General Contractors LLC for renovations to Vestavia Hills Elementary East old cafeteria, $699,621 — Motion: approved. - Approve letter of intent to execute contract with CT General Contractors LLC to allow early material purchases — Motion: approved.
Next steps outlined at the meeting included finalizing contract language, permitting and summer construction scheduling; staff said construction purchases could begin immediately under the letter of intent.
