“font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px;”>After several weeks of snow-cancelled board meetings, the three-member Special Administrative Board of the St. Louis Public Schools District finally approved three design/architecture firms for the new district renovations on Feb. 17.
“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>In August, St. Louis City voters approved a $155 million school bond for new science labs, bathrooms, electrical needs and other facility improvements for the district. For the past month, the first phase of the Proposition S construction has been held up by a school-board vote on the design and architecture firms to do the jobs.
“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>The SAB approved a contract with David Mason & Associates and KAI Design & Build joint venture, Fleming-Flemco, and Grice-Trivers Joint Venture Architects to provide a maximum of $2 million in architectural, engineering and planning services. The construction will be completed by Oct. 29, 2013, according to the contract. Contracts for specific jobs have not been awarded, said Roger CayCe, building facility director for the district.
“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>The district assigned minority-participation goals of 40 percent minority-owned business enterprises and five percent women-owned business enterprises for the Prop S projects. KAI, David Mason & Associates and Fleming-Flemco are local minority-owned businesses. Grice Group is the MBE in the Trivers Associates joint venture. All firms will work with women-owned business partners to meet the goal, CayCe said.
“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Over the next few months, Kwame Building Group, the project manager, will be assigning the firms fast turnaround design projects, so the district can begin construction this summer. The groups will conduct facility evaluations and cost estimates and then prepare the designs. After the designs are completed along with a cost-effective strategy for procurement, the district will release the projects for bids in May, CayCe said.
“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Phase one of the construction, which is set for the summer, totals almost $32 million. The largest portion, $16.46 million, will go towards improvements to the district’s four high schools. Currently all high schools have surveillance cameras and metal detectors, but the district will replace some of these safety systems.
“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Science and computer labs in all the high schools will be revamped. The gymnasiums at Central VPA and Gateway IT high schools will be improved, along with restrooms at Sumner High School.
“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Among other renovations, the district will upgrade technology and electrical in 20 schools, totaling $8.6 million. Twenty-five schools will receive upgrades to their parking lots or playgrounds, totaling $1.3 million.
“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Twelve schools will get roof replacements and 44 schools will receive window upgrades, all totaling $4.4 million.
“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>In his 2011-2012 school plan, Superintendent Kelvin Adams prioritized a need for more early education. Phase one also includes some work for early education classrooms, and child-care program classrooms for high-school students with children. Currently, Vashon High School is the only school with a Parent Infant Interaction Program (PIIP), which services 33 families with children ages six weeks to five years. Sixty six percent of PIIP students graduate and enroll in a secondary institution. Adams would like to implement PIIP programs in all district high schools, he said.
“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>As part of phase one, the district will construct PIIP classrooms at Sumner and Roosevelt high schools, totaling $500,000.
“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>All of the changes are pending the March 31 board meeting, when the district will potentially make decisions about school closures. Earlier this year, CayCe anticipated that the designs for these projects would be completed in March, and the bidding process for first-phase projects would take place in April 2011. However, the delay in the firm selection process may setback the timeline.
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“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>David Mason & Associates will partner with KAI Design & Build, and both groups have worked with the district on a number of projects, including Clyde Miller Career Academy High School and Gateway Middle School for Science and Technology at 1200 N. Jefferson.
“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>“I think everyone recognizes the economic times we are in,” said Taylor Mason, director of business development for David Mason & Associates. “We are excited to provide a comfortable and safe academic environment for our children.”