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Board awards contracts, reviews $9 million capital plan and building-condition survey
Summary
The Depew Union Free School District board approved notices to proceed for contractors tied to the $9 million 2025 capital project after a Young & Wright presentation that reviewed 2021 closeout work, bid results and a five‑year building‑condition survey identifying roughly $150 million of district needs.
The Depew Union Free School District Board of Education voted to authorize notices to proceed and contract preparation for firms recommended for the district's 2025 capital improvement project after a presentation by Young & Wright Architectural and district staff.
Young & Wright summarized remaining 2021 project closeout items and outlined the 2025 project — approved by District voters last May as a $9 million proposition — emphasizing toilet‑room renovations, targeted air conditioning upgrades, replacement of the bus‑garage roof and a track resurfacing. The presenter said bids opened March 5, with roughly 15 bidders across multiple trade contracts; the total base bid reported in the meeting transcript was just under $6.8 million, and the firm recommended acceptance of alternate #11 (an approximately $75,000 protective coating for the track surface).
The presentation also flagged structural issues at the bus garage: investigators identified severe rust and corrosion on exterior columns caused by long-term salt exposure. The architect reported the columns will be cut out and replaced to restore structural stability before the new roof is installed.
Young & Wright reviewed the district's most recent building‑condition survey, which the presenter summarized as identifying about $150 million in deferred needs across district properties, with a large share concentrated at the high school. The firm and district staff framed the $9 million project as addressing the highest‑priority items within that larger set of needs and outlined a multi‑year, five‑ to 15‑year planning horizon for further work.
On motions presented, the board adopted resolutions authorizing Young & Wright to issue notices to proceed and prepare contracts for the recommended bidders and authorized the superintendent to sign the contracts after contractor signature. The board separately authorized Young & Wright to issue a notice to proceed and prepare a contract for Stole Environmental to begin environmental work while final contracts are processed; both measures carried with the standard "all in favor" voice vote recorded in the meeting.
The board also authorized a $100,000 transfer from the general fund to the capital debt fund to support the capital outlay portion of the work, specifically citing upgrades to the middle‑school HVAC management software as part of planning for the 2025–26 capital outlay.
Next steps announced in the meeting: the district will finalize contract paperwork, proceed with required procurement steps and continue detailed long‑term capital planning with internal administration and financial advisors.
