Schools
Fort Zumwalt Approves Contract for South High Construction
Board members said the building will receive improvements including new flooring and fire sprinkler systems.
As construction continues and classrooms are added at and high schools, is next in line for improvements.
The school board approved a $1.9 million contract bid with West County’s Tri-Co, Inc. Commercial for interior renovations to South High School at Tuesday night's regular meeting.
Improvements will include flooring, ceiling, painting, air conditioning, extending the existing sprinkler fire protection system and chalkboard refacing, according to Bill Weber, assistant superintendant of facilities and construction.
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District officials said seven contractors submitted bids, but Tri-Co’s low offer and 22-year history working with St. Louis-area school districts—such as Parkway, Rockwood and St. Charles--put them over the top.
Chief Financial Officer Jeffrey Orr added that so far this year, the district had spent $6.3 million on construction and renovation projects, but about $19.1 million would still have to be paid.
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During staff reports, Orr and Weber updated the board on various construction projects around the district. Despite January’s ice and snow, Weber said construction was ongoing at both North and West high schools.
“For the West High classroom addition, we’ve got some time to make up there because of the weather,” he said, noting that the structural steel beams and columns were now in place and work on the metal roof and floor ducts would start Wednesday. Weber added concrete block bearing walls for the North High band room and classroom additions were also complete.
During Tuesday night's meeting, the board was also recognized by Rep. Vicki Schneider for their service to the state.
“We recognize that you have devoted your time to a strong, effective system of public education that is essential to our system of government,” Schneider read from a proclamation at the start of the meeting. Schneider represents O’Fallon in Missouri’s 17th District.
Superintendent Dr. Bernard DuBray closed the meeting by briefing audience members and staff on the recent Missouri School Board Association Legislative Conference that he and several board members had attended. DuBray said the board and others from across the state recently met in Jefferson City with state legislators to discuss the pertinent issues facing Missouri’s education system.