North-end school plans proceeding

Sonja Young
Herald Staff Writer

November 15, 2005 11:22 am

— CLINTON — The working drawings and construction specifications have been finalized and a completion date for the new north-end elementary school has been set for July 9, 2007.
The Clinton School Board on Monday voted 6-1 in favor of releasing the construction project for bids. Board member Wendy Krajnovich voted against the authorization.
Dave Briden, representing Frevert, Ramsey and Kobes, the district’s architects, recommended the board receive bids on Jan. 19.
“That would give adequate time ... for the contractors to put together a good bid for the project,” Briden said.
Board President Jim Tuisl questioned Briden in regard to the increasing construction supply costs due the hurricanes as well as rising metal prices. But Briden said so far they have not seen any great increases.
“There is always that potential,” Briden cautioned. “We have updated the budget and we feel we’re still within the budget.”
According to Briden, the grading project started earlier this fall is almost done.
“Our anticipation is, with another week of reasonable weather, they should be very nearly complete,” he said.
The 89,000-square-foot school located on 33 acres north of Main Avenue will be built at an estimated cost of $13.9 million with money generated by the local option sales tax.
In other business, the board approved to move the committee of the whole meetings from the last Tuesday of the month to the last Monday of the month.
The next committee of the whole meeting will be Nov. 28 at 5:30 p.m. in the Clinton High School library.
Teachers honored for 30 years of service were Arica Jansen and Marilyn Fee, Washington Middle School; Carol Hunter and Diana Theatre, Elijah Buell elementary; and Gaylene Mangan and Lynn Holland, Whittier Elementary.
Following the regular meeting, the board went into closed session to discuss a claim for a change order regarding the new Jefferson Elementary School project.
When the board returned to open session, it was reported that no decision was made. District officials refused to comment this morning about the nature of the closed session.