School Town of Speedway accepts Project C bids, board hears facility update

The School Town of Speedway Board of Trustees on its March meeting voted to accept 13 bid packages and four alternates for the high school auxiliary gym renovation and expansion project known as Project C.

The board’s vote to accept bid packages 1–13 and alternates passed on a voice vote, recorded in meeting minutes as 4–0 in favor. The board then received a staff facility update on Projects A, B and C covering construction progress, utilities work, mechanical upgrades and timelines for completion.

Project C bid awards and recommended alternates Project staff reported that 46 bids were received across trades and recommended accepting the lowest responsible bidders for each package. The recommended awards included: general trades (Bid Package 1) to 3 D Professional Contracting at $2,212,000; building and site concrete (Package 2) to Gilbertshire Construction at $679,000; precast (Package 3) to CoorsLab at $1,827,000; masonry (Package 4) to Matthew Masonry at $220,000; structural steel (Package 5) to JL Walter and Associates at $630,000; roofing and metal panels (Package 6) to Foster Contracting at $492,000; metal studs/drywall/ceilings (Package 7) to 3 D Professional Contracting at $510,000; paint and wallcovering (Package 8) to Diversified Painting at $48,000; fire protection (Package 9) to RSQ Fire Protection at $123,340; mechanical (Package 10) to Harold Fish Incorporated at $1,579,579; electrical/telecom/security (Package 11) to Design and Build Electric at $2,734,000; earthwork and utilities (Package 12) to J.R. Bowing at $1,081,860; and asphalt (Package 13) to Globe Asphalt Paving at $345,552. The board also approved four alternates, listed in the bid packet as athletic entry canopy (Alternate 1), parking lot pavement replacement (Alternate 5), a sidewalk from the gateway to the football stadium (Alternate 8) and expedited electrical equipment (Alternate 9B). Staff recommended acceptance of the 13 bid packages and the four alternates “as presented.”

Facility update: Projects A, B and C progress Facility Director Eric Roseborough presented a multi‑project update and construction photos. Project A (stadium/track and end‑zone building) is under construction: prefab end‑zone walls and roofing trusses are in place, underground sewer work on 20th Street is underway, stone base for turf installation is being prepared, and roofing and rooftop equipment screening is progressing. Staff reported a realistic substantial completion target of Aug. 1 for Project A, with punch‑list work into August and completion before the first scheduled home football game, barring major weather events.

Project B covers non‑glamorous but critical systems: HVAC, windows, boilers and electrical upgrades across older buildings. Staff said many Project B items were folded into Project C bid packages where efficient, noting electrical room equipment replacements, HVAC design work for Allison Elementary (Stair Associates producing bid documents), potential gym‑floor replacement at the junior high, and window upgrades at Wheeler to improve efficiency (staff said AES incentives may offset costs).

Project C includes the auxiliary gym complex (three gyms, weight room, concessions) and major mechanical and electrical work in the 1962 building. Staff emphasized an unplanned but necessary electrical modernization: AES worked with the district to allow two meter feeds to the high school property and create a looped feed to reduce single‑point outages. The district described replacement of aging electrical gear, a boiler replacement, and conversion to whole‑building water softening to reduce scaling and maintenance on boilers and fixtures. Staff estimated Project C substantial completion around June 2026.

Other work and budget status Staff said the maintenance building has broken ground and is receiving pad and gravel work; the front parking lot is likely to be repaired while the town reworks 20th Street in front of the high school. Presenters said the projects remain within budget and that grouping related work into Project C reduced some costs. Staff thanked the design and finance teams and the building corporation for project support.

Votes at a glance (formal actions on the meeting agenda) - Approve minutes of the Feb. 11, 2025 meeting — motion made and approved on voice vote; recorded count in minutes: 3 in favor (roll call language in transcript unclear); outcome: approved. - Approve Indiana Online summer school contract (CIESC) — motion passed 4–0. Contract cost shown to board: $210 per class with state reimbursement; board approved the contract. - Accept bid packages 1–13 and four alternates for Project C — motion passed 4–0; board accepted the recommended low bidders and alternates as presented. - Approve personnel report for March (see personnel article for details) — motion passed 4–0.

What happened at the meeting The board handled routine business and multiple construction items in one evening. Staff provided detailed line‑item bid recommendations for Project C and showed recent construction photos for Project A, discussed sequencing that allowed some Project B work to be done while buildings are open, and explained utility coordination with AES to reduce disruption to school operations. Several trustees asked timing questions; staff answered with projected schedules and noted potential weather or permitting risks.

Next steps Contract documents for awarded bid packages will be finalized and contractors mobilized according to the bid schedule. Staff said some Project B elements (e.g., Allison Elementary HVAC) will move into a 2026 summer‑work window because of equipment lead times and existing building use.