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Board approves construction management contract; district unveils final media center designs for four schools
Summary
The board approved Baer Construction as construction manager for a multiyear media-center renovation program and reviewed final designs, furniture selections and a $4.3 million project budget (including $451,000 in state grant proceeds). The district moved its construction schedule and expects bidding in November with a December award.
Community Consolidated School District 46’s board on Oct. 15 approved a contract recommendation for construction management services with Baer Construction to support a multiyear capital improvement program that includes media-center renovations at four schools.
District administration and consultants from Wold presented final media-center designs and furniture selections for Meadowview, Prairie View, Frederick and Park (the four schools scheduled for the upcoming summer construction). The administration said the project budget began at about $3.8 million, and that state grant proceeds of $451,000 raised the available budget to approximately $4.3 million.
Consultants described thematic “biome” design concepts for each school (for example, Meadowview’s “floral meadow,” Prairie View’s “grass prairie,” and Frederick’s “sand-and-sea”). Designs include flexible seating, small-group rooms, maker spaces and operable walls to accommodate different age groups. District staff emphasized low-VOC finishes, recycled-content materials where available, LED lighting and furniture chosen for flexibility and durability.
The selection process for construction management began with an RFQ; the district received 10 responses and interviewed four firms. The evaluation team — which included district staff and Wold in an advisory role — recommended Baer Construction based on K–12 experience, proposed team, cost-control approach and scheduling strategies aimed at minimizing instructional disruption. Baer representatives in the meeting confirmed they supply post-project recycling/diversion reports and described practices for minimizing construction waste.
The administration also reported alternate work items tied to the state grant. If exterior improvements fall short of the grant threshold, alternates will be added to meet the grant’s required scope. The district said it will slide the bid schedule slightly: pre-bid work to continue in October, formal bidding in November, and a construction-award recommendation expected in December. The administration noted the overall construction work remains on track for 2026.
Board members and student representatives participated in the user-group process, and the administration said it will solicit additional student feedback in the spring as later-design rounds begin for remaining schools.
The board voted to approve the construction management recommendation; trustees also approved a separate motion earlier in the meeting to authorize issuance of general-obligation debt certificates (see votes-at-a-glance for full list of actions).
