The high school bid is in: $22.6 million

Published 5:00 pm Tuesday, May 1, 2007

It all came down to one envelope. Fortunately, for Bainbridge school officials, that envelope contained something resembling a magic number: $22.6 million.

That was the low – and only – bid for the Bainbridge High School renovation project. The bid was submitted by Leo Finnegan Construction, the same contractor who built Sakai Intermediate School.

Though the bid was roughly 5 percent higher than the district’s cost estimate, officials crowded into the district conference room were excited about the news.

“We certainly hoped the bid would come in below what we projected,” said Superintendent Ken Crawford. “But this margin, given the current bid climate, is excellent.”

Spokesperson Pam Keyes said the district would use future bond interest earnings and/or redistribute capital funds to make up the difference, rather than using non-voted debt.

The centerpiece of the renovation will be a new 200 building that will house a new library, commons, office and classrooms, and be twice the size of its predecessor. Transportation access also will be improved as part of the project.

Capital Projects Director Tamela VanWinkle has been fretting for months about the regional bid climate, which has been unfavorable for school projects elsewhere.

After she read the numbers aloud, the atmosphere in the room shifted from concrete to confetti.

“We’re gonna build a school,” VanWinkle said excitedly, before meeting with architects and officials to more closely examine the bid.

The design team will meet with the Capital Projects Advisory Committee before making a recommendation to the school board at a special meeting on Thursday at 5 p.m. at Sakai.