Board awards Castle-area construction bids and discusses asbestos contingencies, schedules

The Warrick County School Corp board approved multiple construction bids during its April 28 meeting and heard a facilities report about summer projects, schedules and asbestos contingencies.

Assistant Superintendent Todd Armstrong recommended awarding the John H. Castle Elementary classroom addition to ARC Construction as the lowest responsive, responsible bidder; the board approved the award. Armstrong also recommended awarding the Castle High School show-choir renovation to Dyke Brothers Construction; that award was approved as well.

Board members asked whether the projects would begin after the school year ends and whether they would be completed before classes resume. Armstrong said work is scheduled to start once the school year is complete and that the projects list a target substantial completion date of Aug. 1; he said contractors traditionally are able to finish in the final weeks before school, though delays are possible.

Armstrong reported ongoing summer work across the district, including Sharon Elementary ramps, air conditioning upgrades at Tecumseh Middle School, and roof work at Boone (as read into the record). He warned that asbestos commonly appears during renovations when walls or floors are opened and can create surprise change orders that slow projects and increase costs. For the first time, the facilities team said it built contingency into projects to address possible friable asbestos remediation and allow the district to seek credits if asbestos is not present.

Motions and votes: The bid awards for the John H. Castle classroom addition and for the Castle High show-choir renovation were approved by motion and unanimous roll-call votes.