By Dedra Cordle
Staff Writer
The condition of the windows and entry doors at one building in the South-Western City Schools District prompted the board of education to approve a replacement bid by urgent necessity at the Feb. 11 meeting.
According to Mark Waller, the coordinator of property services and construction projects, the action was taken due to the rejection of two bids to replace the doors and windows at East Franklin Elementary School.
“We received two bids for this project and both of them exceeded the architect’s estimated cost by 10 percent,” Waller said. “That excess is an automatic rejection.”
Due to the nature of this project, Waller said it was imperative that the board not enter into another bidding process.
“It’s a lengthy process and sometimes it can take between four and six months for windows to be delivered,” he said. “We want to get these items ordered and installed before the start of the new school year.”
Waller said there is no danger posed to the students and staff due to the condition of the windows and doors but there is a need for safety upgrades.
“Some of those doors and windows are originals from the school, which I think was built in the 1960s,” he said. “They have received a lot of wear and tear through the years and it is time they are replaced and brought up to current day safety standards.”
With the urgent necessity approval, the board entered into a contract with Summit Construction to replace the windows and entry doors at East Franklin Elementary at a cost of $422,000. Waller estimates the work will begin around June 3 and will be completed before the start of the 2019/20 school year.
The board of education also approved a bid to the JB Roofing Company, A Tecta America Company, to partially replace the roof at Central Crossing High School. The cost of the project, which will replace several “low-slope” sections of the main building, is $217,770.
Last month, the board approved a complete roof replacement at East Franklin Elementary and Grove City and Westland high schools at a cost of $5.3 million. Waller said the work on each of those projects is slated to begin on June 3 and be completed in time for the start of the new school year.
