The East Valley School District has decided Walker Construction will do the renovation of Trent Elementary School.

Out of four contractors bidding for the job, Walker had the second lowest base bid. But when options for heating/air conditioning controls, skylights and a covered walkway were added, Walker’s bid was the lowest at $4,832,137.

That number may be adjusted since officials are deciding who will supply the heating controls, said David Cooper, project manager for the school district.

The East Valley School Board awarded the bid this week.

“We were quite pleased with the bids,” said Tom Crouch, business manager for the school district.

The entire project is budgeted at $5.3 million, including design and other costs. The state is providing 60 percent of the total in matching funds.

The Trent project will add six new classrooms to the aging school, renovate the wiring and allow for a larger library and a new technology center. Construction is expected to take about a year. Roughly half of the students will be housed in new classrooms under construction at Skyview Elementary. Other students will remain at Trent.

The district anticipates growth of 100 students at Trent over the next five years.

, DataTimes