School board approves more than $1 million in repair work

At Monday’s meeting, the Sidney school board approved bids for several construction projects to take place at some of its schools this summer.

These projects include roof work, heating and cooling upgrades and window replacement.

Right now its difficult to find competitive bids for construction projects, because of all the jobs going on in Sidney this summer, said Sidney Schools Superintendent Jay Ehler. All of the bids for these particular project came in at least a little higher than the school expected, he added.

Sidney schools are using qualified zone academy bonds to fund this work. Schools have 25 years to pay back these bonds. The federal government usual pays the entirety of the interest on the bonds. The Sidney schools currently have around $1.5 million available in QZAB funds.

“I’m assuming those projects can’t wait a year to go through another bid process when things slow down,” school board member Randy Miller asked.

Ehler answered that it might be possible to wait, but no one could be sure that construction in the area will slow down next year.

“Typically, I wouldn’t be surprised if it went up instead of down,” Ehler said. “Maybe there would be more competition.”

After receiving two bids, the board approved a bid for around $77,000 from Twin Cities Roofing for projects at central elementary and the middle school. This roofing project will include work on the roof above central’s gymnasium as well as above the middle school media center and band room. The school prioritized what portions of the roof most badly needed work.

The board also approved a bid of around $680,000 from Day and Night Plumbing for heating and cooling improvements at west elementary and the middle school.

All of these construction improvements are set to be finished by Aug. 1. The contractors plan to begin work as soon as possible.

Wamsley Construction’s bid for replacing windows and doors at the middle school was accepted at a price of almost $430,000.

The school board also discussed the possible costs of remodeling Central Elementary to transform it into the new central office building with a new board room, if the new school bond passed in Tuesday’s election. This remodeling project at central would likely cost around $270,000, or more if the school is unable to get a competitive bid. The school might have to use money out of its special building fund to remodel central elementary.

The school board is setting aside $136,000 for new technology infrastructure out of the QZAB funds.