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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 district's operational budget faces a roughly $2 million shortfall for the 2024-25 year and that committing to added facilities costs would constrain funds available for other building upgrades and classroom needs. Supporters argued delaying the project would prolong overcrowding and safety strains at Wiley and the middle school.
"I don't think we have the $650,000 of excess costs predicted to be next necessary for the sixth grade center," said a board member who urged caution and proposed exploring an alternative-school model instead of moving sixth graders into a new center. That proposal referenced an email from teacher Chuck Kaplinsky suggesting concentrated behavior issues among a small subgroup of students that could be better served by a smaller alternative placement.
Contractor RJ Hines, president of English Brothers, addressed the board during the presentation and said his firm's recent similar projects produced only about 2% in change orders, which he used to support the lower contingency assumption. "We're very comfortable, given the fact that we've been through there multiple times and it has been unoccupied," Hines said.
Board discussion included the fact that about $1.5 million has already been spent on demolition and asbestos abatement at the Wiley site, paid from existing pay-as-you-go FY24 funds, and that the district expects to use a dedicated facility sales tax revenue stream to service bonds for the project rather than property taxes.
The vote: The roll-call vote recorded Vice President Exum, Member Langendorff, Member Staton and Member Jones as voting yes; Members Baxley, President Pawlowski and Member Hixson voted no. The motion passed 4-3.
What happens next: With the contract award approved, the district said it would proceed with scheduling and coordinate the add-alternate decisions later in the construction process depending on available funds. Board members who opposed the award said they expect continued budget review and may press for operational savings or program changes during the summer and at September budget hearings.
The meeting adjourned after the vote; the board noted its next meeting is scheduled for August 6.
