Garco to finish WV remodel

The West Valley School Board on Friday awarded Garco Construction of Spokane a $29.6 million contract to complete the last phases of the remodel of West Valley High School.Although Garco – the same company that was selected to build Central Valley High School in 2000 – was the lowest of two bidders for the project, the contract amount came in $1.8 million higher than estimated, due in part to rising costs of building materials.

“There was a phenomenal increase in drywall costs,” said Greg Jeffreys, construction manager for the project. “Everybody in the industry nationally is nervous.”

The other trouble area was the cost of steel stud framing, he said.

While the bids were high the difference between the base bid amounts, submitted by Garco and Lydig Construction of Spokane, was also only $192,000.

“We had a very competitive bid,” Jeffreys said.

Voters approved a 20-year, $35 million construction bond in May 2004 for the renovation of the high school, and for additions to the district’s four elementary schools.

The state originally agreed to contribute $13 million in matching funds to the project. Due to changes in state allocations through the Legislature, an additional $4 million was added to the budget, said Steve McNutt, of Northwest Architectural Co.

“That gives us bonus funds that we didn’t expect,” which will help with the cost increases, McNutt said.

Northwest Architectural designed the renovation project, which is scheduled to begin in October and be completed in three phases by fall 2007.

The first phase of the project, which began in May, came in $260,000 under budget and is about a week from being completed. The first phase included surfacing two parking lots, the relocation of two tennis courts, and surfacing the area of the soccer field that will house portable classrooms for students while work on the school building is completed.

Utility work to power and sewer lines also was completed.

The last three phases involve the construction of a new entrance to the school, and a new gym with new locker rooms, restrooms and concession stands. A new weight room will be built on the second floor, the theater will be expanded with more seating and a larger backstage area, and new music practice rooms will be constructed. A new library will sit on the first floor. Music and science rooms will be modernized and redesigned.

In many places, the original building will be torn down to the studs and rebuilt.

Students will begin moving into 13 portable classrooms sometime in December, said Dave Smith, the project manager. The students likely will stay there until June, when the second phase is complete.

Because the contract amount was higher than expected, many of the enhancements, like a new wrestling floor and new stage lights, were left out for now.

“I think we’re still going to get them,” Smith said.

Smith said staff will work to cut costs whenever possible as the project progresses, freeing up money for the extras.

Extras that were accepted in the contract include new controls for the heating and ventilation systems, electricity for the portable classrooms, roadwork on the north half of Buckeye during construction, which is not funded by the state, and a new sign for the building.

To prepare for possible spikes in construction costs during bidding for the elementary school projects, $1.5 million of the additional state funds was set aside along with the $10 million already earmarked for the remodel of the four schools, Smith said.

School board members expressed concern whether high costs could cause problems with the remodel of the elementary schools.

“I just want to make sure that our elementary schools don’t get short-changed,” said board member Debbie Hjortedal.

Each of the district’s four elementary schools is expected to get a new gym, new classrooms, and a modernized kitchen.

“We are still looking at prices and saying, ‘I think we can,’ ” Smith said. “I don’t think it’s going to make sense to have a high school as the shining star, if we can’t complete what we promised to the elementary schools.”