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Board approves $860,000 bid for Tehachapi Education Center bleacher and site upgrades
Summary
Trustees approved a low bid of $859,999 from Blackhawk Construction to replace bleachers and bring associated site and accessibility features up to code at the Tehachapi Education Center; the district said the work is funded through expanded-learning program resources and requires upgrades beyond the $75,000 bleacher price.
The Tehachapi Unified School District Board of Trustees on May 13 voted 7-0 to award a construction bid of $859,999 to Blackhawk Construction for site work required to replace bleachers at the Tehachapi Education Center, a project district staff said is funded through expanded-learning program dollars.
Trustee Christiansen moved approval of the bid package and Vice President Kelly seconded. "All in favor, say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Motion carries 7-0," Board President Kaminski said after the vote.
District staff told the board the $859,999 package covers the contractor's work to prepare the gym and surrounding areas for new, telescoping bleachers, plus required accessibility upgrades: new exterior doors for ADA ingress and egress, remodeled and expanded restrooms for ADA accessibility, parking revisions, electrical upgrades to accommodate the new bleachers, a new fire-alarm system for the gymnasium and other related site improvements. The bleachers themselves were quoted separately at about $75,000 and have already been ordered; site preparation and code compliance account for the larger share of the total bid, staff said.
Assistant staff explained the funding source is the Expanded Learning Opportunities Program, which allows before- and after-school and summer activities spending. The superintendent said staff sought to use available funds for facility improvements at a high-use site; several trustees asked whether funds could instead be used at the middle school gym, and staff explained program rules and timing mean the money is not straightforwardly transferrable to another campus without disrupting expanded-learning services.
District staff said Erwin (seating vendor) will remove the old bleachers and install the new ones; the $859,999 contract covers preparation work and prevailing-wage construction costs. The district said the bleachers are expected to be delivered in July and that the project timeline aims to make the upgraded gym available by fall.
Board members asked for clarity on sequencing, costs for the bleacher equipment and the rationale for using expanded-learning funds at this particular site; staff said architectural and DSA (Division of the State Architect) approvals are part of the process. The board approved the contract to keep the project on schedule.
The bid award authorizes the district to proceed with the contracted site and accessibility upgrades; no changes to district policy were required.
