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Board approves Lewis Middle School teaching-kitchen contract, subject to legal bid confirmation
Summary
The Waukegan Board of Education approved a design‑build contract with Crimson Design and Construction for a teaching kitchen at Lewis Middle School — $330,962 — with the vote conditioned on legal confirmation about whether the project must go out to public bid.
The Waukegan Board of Education voted Wednesday to approve a design‑build agreement with Crimson Design and Construction to build a teaching kitchen at Lewis Middle School, at a total project cost “of up to $330,962,” with the approval made “subject to confirmation from legal counsel that the project need not be bid.”
Board members debated the procurement approach and schedule before the vote. A district staff member responding to board questions said the district had not issued a competitive bid because the work is structured as a design‑build engagement rather than separate architectural and construction contracts. Glenn Zagon, owner of Crimson Design and Construction, told the board, “We’re really a turnkey approach to all of our projects … what we design is what we build,” and said the firm often self‑performs most work on similar small, time‑sensitive projects to control schedule and budget.
Board member concerns focused on cost transparency and whether appliance and furniture costs were included in the contract documents. Board member [board member] asked why appliances and furniture appeared as zero in the proposal; a district staff member replied, “We have what we need,” explaining equipment previously used in a greenhouse program would be moved into the new kitchen and that no separate board request for appliances was expected.
Several board members asked legal staff to confirm whether a project of this total value must be put out to competitive bid under district policy and state law. The board amended the motion to approve the contract “subject to confirmation from legal counsel that the project need not be bid.” The motion passed.
District staff and the contractor also flagged schedule constraints: the contractor said foundations, plumbing and electrical work must start soon to meet a winter construction window and to have the kitchen available for spring use. The administration said it expected work to begin in November if the board proceeded.
The vote allows the design‑build contract to proceed only if counsel confirms it does not legally require a competitive bid; if counsel advises that bidding is required, the board said the contract would not move forward.
