Board awards roofing and fire‑alarm contracts for several district projects

The Longview School Board approved multiple 2024‑25 bid awards on May 27, awarding roofing and fire‑alarm contracts to address failing roofs and aging safety systems at district facilities.

District facilities staff said major planned and unplanned projects this year include Memorial Stadium work and mechanical repairs at Mark Morris, and that a cluster of smaller summer projects required separate public bids. The board approved three contracts by voice vote:

- Weather Guard Roofing Inc., awarded the Columbia Heights pod roof contract at $307,868.80 (including Washington sales tax). Staff said the project includes structural ledger and beam replacement where rot was found and that the manufacturer offers a 20‑year material and labor warranty.

- JH Kelly, awarded the Mid/Mint (district referred to as “Net/Mid Valley”) fire‑alarm replacement for $406,773.81 (including sales tax). Facilities staff said the existing system is obsolete, spare parts cannot be purchased, and a failed component requires system replacement; JH Kelly’s bid includes a standard one‑year parts and labor warranty and will require final design approval from the city fire marshal.

- Weather Guard Roofing Inc., awarded the MOTF bus‑shop roof replacement for $105,586.67 (including sales tax). Staff said the shop roof’s surfacing had deteriorated to the underlying scrim and car‑decking, necessitating replacement and repair of wood decking.

District staff explained cost drivers during discussion. For the fire‑alarm work, a concealed conduit condition and acoustic ceiling coverings required more extensive demolition and re‑routing of wiring than originally expected; the presence of wire mold and the need to replace conduit made the project closer to a full re‑installation, which affected pricing. Board members noted the projects are being paid from scheduled maintenance budgets and discussed the trade‑offs between replacement and previously considered facility‑replacement plans.

All three motions to award contracts were moved, seconded and carried by voice vote. Staff said contractors estimated job sequencing to limit impacts (for example, scheduling bus‑shop work to avoid interfering with summer bus operations) and that final city inspections and fire‑marshal signoffs will be required for alarm work. Warranties and the fact that both awarded roofing contracts came from a local firm were highlighted during discussion.

The board asked staff to continue close oversight of contractors and to report back on schedule and warranty confirmation.