Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Theater Renovation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board weighs three bids for high-school theater renovation as LTFM funds available
Summary
The Lake Park Audubon School District board reviewed three bids for theater renovations and discussed scope, long-term durability and costs, including a late revised bid and optional protective equipment. Staff said about $540,000 is available from LTFM to fund the work.
The Lake Park Audubon School District board reviewed three bids for a planned renovation of the high school theater, with staff saying the district has roughly $540,000 available from its Long Term Facility Maintenance (LTFM) levy.
Staff member (Speaker 4) told the board the FY25 LTFM projection was “approximately $540,000 in LTFM,” and said the district uses that funding to address large capital items over a 10-year maintenance plan. The renovation work under consideration covers audio, lighting, control systems and some acoustical improvements.
Board members compared three proposals: a more extensive original quote (about $209,000) that a vendor later trimmed to roughly $138,000, a package from Site and Sound that included new LED fixtures and house lighting options, and a proposal from Fundamental Tech. Staff and board members emphasized differences in scope — whether the vendor would replace or retune existing ceiling speakers, provide moving lights and presets, or supply a turnkey, tablet-controlled control panel.
Speakers raised practical concerns about long-term maintenance and local support. Committee members noted the importance of fixtures and installation quality — one board member said audio electronics “you get what you pay for” — and staff described past reliance on outside contractors for events because the existing system has reached the end of its functional life.
The board discussed several optional items and cost drivers, including a removable protective cage to shield stage fixtures during athletic events; the cage was described as an optional package estimated at about $15,000. Staff cautioned that some projects would require separate electrical work or electrician-licensed labor that is not included in an AV vendor’s quote.
Staff said a vendor representative who could explain the newest revised quote would attend the next meeting; the board agreed to keep the item on the agenda for approval at its January meeting after a closer review of the bids and any walk-through pricing for electrician work.
The board invited members of the public with theater expertise to speak during the public-comment period at the next meeting.
What’s next: the board will review the full bid packages in BoardDocs and hear any vendor or public comment at the January meeting before possible formal action.
