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Board to consider awarding construction-manager-at-risk contract for Julian Thomas parking modifications
Summary
District staff recommended awarding a construction-manager-at-risk RFP for parking and site modifications at Julian Thomas Elementary to Welcome Excavating and Grading with a total project budget of $656,280; the work is tied to a land-swap and Lincoln King Center development and will replace lost parking and a 4K playground area.
Racine Unified staff told the board Wednesday they will recommend awarding construction-manager-at-risk services for site and parking modifications at Julian Thomas Elementary to Welcome Excavating and Grading, under RFP 25-08R, with a total project budget of $656,280. The board will take the recommendation to a formal vote at the June business meeting.
Staff said the work follows a land-swap agreement with the city associated with the Lincoln King Center project and the closure of West Street. The project restores roughly 25 parking spaces lost to the land swap, relocates a 4K playground area near the current playground and modifies site circulation to accommodate larger vehicles, including delivery trucks and fire apparatus.
"This project is part of the land swap agreement with the city of Racine that the Board of Education and City Council approved," a staff presenter said. "We are looking to equalize parking and relocate the 4K playground equipment; we anticipate work to begin this summer after board approval and continue into the fall semester." (Staff presenter.)
Board members asked about vehicle circulation, playground equipment relocation and parking contingency plans if work continues into the school year. Staff said the dashed approach off Martin Luther King Drive on the plan accommodates box trucks and fire trucks; the district expects some work to continue into the fall and has contingency parking available to rent across State Street from a former merchant site if needed.
One board member asked about the RFP scoring: Welcome scored higher on cost largely because the firm self-performs a significant portion of the scope of work, lowering subcontract costs compared with the other bidder, Shear Construction. Staff also confirmed Welcome previously completed a parking lot and playground project for the district at Gifford in summer 2024.
The board was told the city will not bear the project cost; the district will present the recommended award at the June business meeting for formal approval.
