School board moves to solicit bids, geotech work and community survey after failed high‑school bond

The Perry County School District 32 board on Tuesday approved several steps aimed at getting students out of temporary tent classrooms and advancing a scaled‑back rebuild after a bond measure failed in April.

Chair (speaker 1) opened the discussion by saying the district must decide how to balance short‑term fixes with money preserved for a permanent solution. “The voter said no. I think we gotta go back to the voter and ask for money again,” the chair said as the board considered next steps.

District presenters reviewed options including value‑engineering the planned high school, renovating a structurally sound West Wing this summer, and using a pre‑engineered metal interim building to house classrooms. Presenters described a two‑phase plan with summer work on the 200/300 wing and gym to reduce student moves and a separate package for demolition of structurally unsafe portions of the building.

On procurement and timing, the board was told bid packages 1a (metal building supply and erection) and 1b (foundations and site utilities) were ready; accepting those bids would commit roughly $1.3 million plus contingency for the interim metal building, while a third package would cover interior fit‑out. A presenter (speaker 10) noted lead times for the metal building are about 16 weeks and said the team aims to have students back in more permanent space by the end of the calendar year if schedules and bids align.

The board approved a geotechnical contract with Holcomb Engineering for $10,385 to perform 11 borings and gather subsurface data needed for foundation and utility planning. Chair framed the geotech work as necessary regardless of whether the district proceeds with a scaled project: the soil data will inform any future design decisions.

Recognizing the bond’s defeat, the board also voted to pursue rapid community outreach and a new survey to learn what drove 'no' votes and what tradeoffs residents will accept. The chair proposed asking respondents whether they voted on the prior proposition and, if so, why they opposed it; several board members supported multi‑channel outreach including paper, QR codes and a phone survey to maximize reach.

The board moved and approved leaving bid packages for the South Wing renovation and associated demolition on the table for award consideration; motions to put the work out to bid were made and approved by voice vote. Members emphasized they were authorizing bids and not obligating the district to immediate construction until the board reviews returned prices and decides whether to award.

Staff also briefed the board on FEMA coordination and a notice‑of‑interest for hazard mitigation grants that could provide a 75/25 match for storm‑resilient structures; the board agreed staff should submit an NOI where appropriate and return for board approval before pursuing awards.

What happens next: the district expects to post bid packages, receive proposals, and bring recommended awards back to the board (staff described a target to return to the board with award recommendations on the 13th of the month). The board scheduled a work session with administrators and key consultants to refine the survey, review balloting timelines (the transcript references a May 26 deadline to hit the August ballot), and develop a sharper, data‑driven proposal for voters.

Actions recorded: board certified it would pursue bids for interim facilities and West Wing renovations, approved the Holcomb geotechnical proposal, and authorized staff to draft and distribute a community survey. The transcript records voice votes approving those motions; specific roll‑call tallies were not recorded in the public remarks.

Costs and scope highlights: presenters estimated demolition and debris removal for phased work in the range of about $250,000–$450,000; comparable new high‑school construction figures offered to the board averaged roughly $363 per square foot with the district budgeting $380–$400/ft for contingency. The interim metal building and foundation packages were described as committing about $1.3 million before fit‑out.

The board emphasized urgency — staff said the timeline is tight to avoid moving students in mid‑semester — but also cautioned against committing to long‑term spending that would reduce funds available for the permanent school design. The board’s next formal actions will be based on returned bids, refined cost estimates and the results of the planned community survey.