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Board approves $80,155 for excavation and foundation work on student-built house project
Summary
The board awarded excavation and flat work for the Helen Street student construction project to Accurate Foundations/Pro Excavation with a $10,000 contingency, approving up to $80,155.
The Southgate Community School District Board of Education voted March 28, 2025, to award excavation and foundation/flat work for the Helen Street student-built house project to Accurate Foundations and Pro Excavation and authorized up to $80,155 to start construction.
Mr. Hinton, the meeting presenter, said the project is intended to give construction trades students hands-on experience building a house over the course of the program. "We've been working on trying to get our construction trades students the opportunity to construct a house in Southgate, and be able to build that up through their time in the construction trades program, and have that sense of pride once that is completed," Mr. Hinton said.
The district solicited three quotes. One bidder, identified as S and H, quoted $149,000; Integrity quoted $108,813; and the lowest combined bid from Accurate Foundations and Pro Excavation totaled $70,155. The administration proposed adding a $10,000 contingency, bringing the authorization request to $80,155.
Board members discussed the wide variance in quotes and noted such discrepancies are common in current construction markets. One member referenced a similar experience when bidding a sewage line project, where prices varied widely. Another member praised the administration for finding a substantially lower bid while maintaining quality.
Mr. Hinton's presentation included an example that Accurate Foundations previously worked on a comparable project with Carlson High School about 10 years ago and reported a positive experience working with students. The board moved to approve contracting for the excavation and flat work not to exceed $80,155; the motion passed by voice vote with no opposition recorded.
The approved amount includes a $10,000 buffer for incidental costs. The district will notify the selected contractors and schedule mobilization; no construction schedule or completion date was specified in the meeting record.
