Lewis Central board approves middle school renovation agreement, outlines $7.5M scope

The Lewis Central Community School District board on Oct. 20 approved a scope-and-services agreement with BCDM to proceed with a comprehensive renovation of the district middle school, the superintendent said.

Superintendent Doctor Easing told the board the project is complex and that the Construction Manager/General Contractor (CMR) portion and associated work are estimated at about $7.5 million, including contingency. The renovation package covers building-envelope repairs, mechanical work, new accessibility features (including replacing an auditorium-level stair with a lift and ramp modifications at the special-education wing), auditorium seating and full student locker replacement. "All of the actual renovation falls within that 7 and a half million dollars," the superintendent said during the presentation.

Board members discussed coordinating a previously planned $300,000 LED lighting upgrade into the larger contract to reduce duplicate contracting and installation scheduling: the superintendent said the district will order lights directly to avoid additional design fees and coordinate their installation through the CMR. The superintendent described other scope items planned for the contract: gym bleacher front panel replacement, locker fabrication and replacement where parts are no longer available, and targeted stairway modifications to address a pinch point in student circulation.

The board voted unanimously to approve the agreement. The recorded roll-call vote listed board members Peterson, Sheppard, Sorensen, Sturm and Wright as voting "yes." The motion to approve was moved and seconded during the action portion of the meeting.

Superintendent Easing also reviewed a proposed CMR selection timeline and recommended selection criteria: issue a public notice (noted in the presentation as planned for Oct. 21), accept statements of qualification (discussion referenced a Nov. 5 submission date), and have an ad-hoc committee evaluate finalists and bring interviews to the full board for final selection prior to the district's December reorganization. The superintendent said selection criteria should emphasize experience with similarly complex remodels, past performance and safety records.

The superintendent cautioned the board that contractors may recommend a multi-summer construction schedule for a project of this scale and that phasing or coordination will be necessary to minimize disruption to students. The district also noted there may be flexibility in final scope depending on market conditions and contractor proposals.

Next steps listed in the presentation included public advertising for qualifications, committee evaluation of finalists, requests for additional information if needed, finalist interviews before the board and then a final board selection.