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Facilities update: DNT First Street construction underway, roof and site contracts awarded; Myers-Wilkins guardrail work awaiting city decision
Summary
District facilities staff reported construction has begun on the Duluth News Tribune First Street building and that the District Service Center expansion is nearing completion. Committee packet shows roof-replacement contract awards to Garland/DBS with McDowell Company; Myers-Wilkins guardrail (now described as bulwarks) is pending city approval.
Duluth Public Schools' facilities staff updated the HR Business Services Committee on Oct. 13 about multiple projects in progress and forthcoming contract work, including the DNT First Street building and other school maintenance projects.
Why it matters: active construction and contract awards affect facility availability, budgets and school safety.
Committee takeaways: - DNT First Street work and roof bids: staff said construction has begun on the Duluth News Tribune First Street building. The packet includes bid results for a roof replacement at the DNT First Street building; the recommended contractor shown in the packet is Garland/DBS Incorporated with McDowell Company listed for installation. The packet also lists a roof replacement RFP for Stowe Elementary with Garland/DBS as a recommended contractor in the packet. - Prevailing wage and local labor: staff said the district follows prevailing-wage policy and seeks local union labor where feasible; the committee heard that the lowest responsible bid with prevailing wage is the district's first consideration. - Myers-Wilkins guardrail/bulwark: Member Banks asked whether the guardrail installation at Myers-Wilkins had been completed. Facilities staff said the work is dependent on the city's determination and that the district is waiting on the city. Staff said the design has shifted from a traditional guardrail to larger "bulwark" devices to slow or stop vehicles. - Other facilities work: staff reported the transportation building expansion at the district service center is nearing completion and that Denfeld High School heating work (clock tower) is underway. They also said the district removed an underground fuel tank at Lakewood and that building-operations summer cleaning covered about 1,753,095 square feet of building space. - Work orders and staff milestones: staff reported about 374 work orders in progress and noted long service milestones for Elizabeth Ladoux and Daniel Colton, each recognized for 40 years of district service.
The committee was invited to monthly construction updates and to attend tours and weekly construction meetings for large projects such as the First Street site. Staff said the anticipated opening date for the First Street facility remains August 2026.
