Trustees approve funds for music building

Trustees decided to move ahead at their Thursday meeting on a new building project that will house the music program, while giving the drama classes more room in the existing building for their props and supplies.

The low bid, though, came in at $1.437 million from Ferguson Construction. The original cost of the building, when presented to the board in March, was estimated at $972,000.

In December trustees approved going forward with the scope of work and budget for remodeling the existing high-school music room. Paul Eskeldson, project manager for Parsons, showed trustees preliminary plans for remodeling and adding on to the existing building at their October meeting.

Trustees approved the scope of work and budget and also approved a contract totaling $75,920 with Van Woert Bigotti Architects of Reno.

Eskeldson told trustees all building bids were high.

“The bids came in significantly over budget,” he said.

Discussion focused on available funds if the school district were to accept the Ferguson bid and move ahead with plans to construct the building.

Dr. Sandra Sheldon, superintendent of schools, said Eskeldson; Phyllys Dowd, director of Business Services; and Brian Byrd, director of Maintenance; met last week before the board meeting to review the capital project budget.

“Paul was able to see how much additional funds we had from the bond funds,” Sheldon said.

Based on information provided by Dowd, she said the district would have enough money to cover the additional cost for the building. Sheldon said she thought about delaying the project and the awarding of the contract until December, but she said construction costs in northern Nevada are increasing because of projects at the Tahoe Reno Industrial Center and in the Reno area.

“I was advised the cost of labor and material is going up and the cost of steel is skyrocketing,” she said.

Trustee Ron Evans asked Eskeldson about the use of local contractors on the project. He said in addition to Ferguson, other local firms involved in the building include Hiskett and Sons, Oasis Air Conditioning and Heating, Hotwire and other smaller subcontractors.

Trustee Grey Koenig said he was concerned with the added cost to the project and asked if the drama and music teachers can meet with Eskeldson and see what could be cut.

“Some things were added after the last time we discussed this,” Koenig said.

Bob Getto of Ferguson Construction said construction is “red hot” in most of western Nevada except Fallon.

“We had a hard time getting a good variety of subcontractors,” Getto told trustees.

Additionally, Getto said building is about timing and to meet the deadlines for the school year, he said work would need to begin soon,

Jeff Goings of Oasis Air Conditioning and Heating said from what he has seen, the cost of material is rising, and it’s taking 15 to 16 weeks for orders to be filled.

In other action, the school board ...

Approved to renew the contract for Oasis Online.

Rejected a bid considered too low for the Plummer Building.

Approved Matt Hyde to represent the board on the Hall of Fame committee.

Increased substitute teacher pay from $90 to $100 per day.

Renewed the Wide Area Network and Internet Contracts for CC Communications.

Eliminated the position of Food Services director.