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Urbana SD 116 board awards sixth-grade center bid amid budget worries, alternative-school pitch
Summary
After hours of debate and a public plea for tutoring and alternative placements, the Urbana SD 116 Board approved awarding the low construction bid for a proposed sixth-grade center to English Brothers (base bid $21,730,000 plus 5% contingency) in a 4-3 vote. Several board members warned of an impending $2 million operating shortfall and urged caution.
At a special 6:00 meeting, the Urbana SD 116 Board of Education voted 4-3 to award the construction contract for a proposed sixth-grade center to English Brothers at a base bid of $21,730,000 plus a 5% construction contingency.
The decision followed a detailed presentation of the project scope, site plan and alternates by the project presenter and a late exchange of questions about budget increases and contingency levels. The presenter said the addition is about 30,000 square feet and that after recent value-engineering work the total project budget had moved from roughly $24 million at schematic design to about $25.5 million after cuts of roughly $425,000.
Why it matters: Board members who opposed the award said the…
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