Prior Lake-Savage Area School Board approves bids for WestWood, Edgewood

Prior Lake American

Remodeling and additions for WestWood and Edgewood elementary schools are one step closer to fruition.

The Prior Lake-Savage Area School Board voted to award bids for the project during a meeting on Monday.

The bids were awarded to Parkos Construction for more than $1.9 million for general construction, to Culinex for more than $303,000 for food service equipment, to Climate Makers for $356,000 for piping and plumbing, to Chappell Central for $260,000 for HVAC ventilation and to Phasor Electric for $324,000 for electrical.

A kitchen and cafeteria area would be built connecting the two schools. There would also be two spaces converted into kindergarten rooms, a volunteer and staff room remodel and student breakout and resource areas at Edgewood Elementary.

Multi-purpose rooms will be remodeled into kindergarten classrooms and the cafeteria would be remodeled into a student resource area, special education and English language learner spaces at WestWood Elementary.

The board approved designs for the schools in February. According to the construction phasing timeline, the work will be done by fall 2019.

The board rejected one bid, as recommended by consulting firm Nexus Solutions, for fire protection. The sole bid received was double the anticipated cost. Nexus Solutions Project Manager Jeff Martin said the company will solicit bids for the remaining work.

The bids totaled nearly $3.2 million. According to board documents, the project is currently under budget by more than $11,400.

The projects are one of multiple in the district stemming from a $109.3 million bond referendum approved by voters in November. The referendum will also pay for the construction of a new elementary school, a new Bridges Area Learning Center building, a two-story addition to the Prior Lake High School and other additions.