R-II construction on hold
Construction in the Maryville R-II School District has been put on hold due to weather while awaiting bid opportunities.
The district is in the process of following through with a $10.25 million bond issue that will be used to construct a new performing arts center at Maryville High School along with a new MHS practice gymnasium and an expanded kitchen and cafeteria area at Eugene Field Elementary School.
The bonds will also fund enhanced security measures at the main entrances to all three of the district’s schools, and provide the high school with an improved weight room and additional space for athletic lockers.
“Weather has been a limiting factor,” said Assistant Superintendent Steve Klotz. “We have done site preparation on the high school campus. We have had some bid opportunities that have come back and we feel like the environment hasn’t been competitive enough and prices haven’t been where we thought it would be.”
As a result, construction is paused until mid-Spring.
“We’re now in the process of making sure we’re creating plans and designs that will lead to a competitive bid environment,” Klotz said. “At this time, we don’t have any current work besides planning to release bid packaging to make sure we can get good pricing.”
The initial construction calendar calls for the new kitchen and commons area at Eugene Field to be open by the end of the 2015 calendar year, but it is unlikely other projects will be complete.
“There is potential for our performing arts center to be completed in the 2015 calendar year,” Klotz said, “but it doesn’t look like it is going to happen fast enough. If we are able to do some of the internal renovations that we would like to do, we’re hoping we can do them over the summer and be ready when we start school.”
Although not finalized, Klotz said the board is deciding whether to delay the start of school in order to wrap up some of the construction projects.
“We need to be sure we’re providing an opportunity for contractors to complete work that we need to get completed,” he said. “That’s definitely a consideration as we look at start date.”
Last year, R-II began classes the second week of August.
“…which is a bit early,” Klotz said. “I anticipate our start date would be later than that, but we haven’t made a final calendar recommendation to our board yet.”
However, as for now, Klotz said the district is making sure promises will be delivered.
“We’re right in the middle of making sure we can deliver what we outlined in our campaign,” he said. “Our new performing arts center is exciting, but it will take a while to get that facility completed.”
