Board approves modular classroom installations at Falls Creek, St. Stephen; Moss Marlowe selected

The Catawba County Board of Education on June 9 approved contracts to install modular classroom units at Falls Creek Elementary School and St. Stephen’s Elementary School, contracting Moss Marlowe Building Company as the apparent low bidder for both projects.

Dan Moore presented the bid summary and owner-contractor agreements, telling the board the low apparent bids were $206,945 for Falls Creek Elementary and $247,745 for St. Stephen’s. Moore said the work includes electrical, plumbing and data connections; he described the scope as similar to prior modular installations the district completed the previous summer.

A board member asked whether the district owns the units; a member asked whether the arrangement was a lease and for how long. Moore said the district does not own the units and that the projects are under a lease agreement; he said the lease is five years. He explained the higher price at St. Stephen’s reflects additional distance and sewer work required at that site.

The board approved the bid summary and then approved standard owner-contractor agreements between the Catawba County Board of Education and Moss Marlowe Building Company for both modular installations; both approvals passed by unanimous vote.

Moore told the board the vendor will ensure utilities and site work are completed; expected delivery was discussed elsewhere on the agenda as timed for June for start of school needs. The board did not specify additional funding sources during the discussion; the bid amounts were presented as the contract values.

The approvals were listed as business items and carried with unanimous votes.