Design review: pool infill and weight-room conversion moves toward bids; district expects to report bid results in September

Sharon Gould of Nexus presented the final design phase for the pool infill and the high-school weight-room conversion at the Oak Creek High School on July 13, describing demolition, geofoam infill, drainage controls, mechanical and electrical modifications, and reuse of some existing HVAC components where feasible.

Gould walked the board through renderings and the scope that includes a turf training area, athletic office space, cardio and weight equipment, and sound-rated ceiling assemblies to limit noise transfer to music rooms above. On the pool infill material she said the plan uses geofoam rated for structural application with gravel for drainage beneath it; the design includes allowances for a sump pump if subsurface water remains. “This is the last stage of design for the pool referendum project,” Gould said, describing work to finalize technical systems and coordinate with athletics and IT.

Budget and procurement: staff reported the overall referendum work is divided into five bid packages. The presenter and district staff said the first four bid packages are trending under budget and that bid package 5 (which encapsulates remaining scope) is expected to be tabulated by the end of August, with a deeper budget review scheduled for September when bid results arrive. A staff member told the board that, based on current trends, the district expects to cover equipment costs through savings in earlier bid packages while leaving contingency funds intact.

Timeline and next steps: Gould said weight-room infill work will not begin until natatorium pools are operational; preliminary completion for the project was discussed as aiming for August, and a board member clarified that the district is looking at August 2027 for completion. District staff said final bid results and contract awards will be presented to the board at the second meeting in September.

Community and facilities note: the presentation included discussion of sound control to protect the band room above, reuse of an existing pool exhaust fan as part of return airflow, additions of drinking fountains by the athletic office and adjustments to exit lighting for revised egress paths.

What’s next: staff will return with bid results and a refined budget in September; the board scheduled further action at the second September meeting and an aquatic center tour on Aug. 10 ahead of the next board meeting.