From the Superintendent's Desk

As I get feedback regarding the referendum, one of the common things I get is “How much is the new Commons?,” “How much is the new Gym?,” and many other questions related to cost of the various parts of this project. The focus this week will be on the cost of some of the major components of the proposed projects.
The one aspect to keep in mind is the figures presented are construction estimates based on a per square foot cost and experience doing similar projects. The actual costs for the projects could vary some depending upon a variety of factors as we move through the design, bidding, and construction process.
When looking at the breakdown of the proposed $5.9 million worth of work at Durand Middle/Senior High School the majority ($3.6 million) addresses a large number of our 1-6 year needs as identified in our Facilities Study. The work to be included under this portion include HVAC and electrical upgrades, remodeling of the Science rooms, remodeling of the Technical Education area, remodeling of the Freshmen Hall area, relocation of offices, remodeling to create a second girls’ locker room, and addition of a weight room and wrestling/multi-purpose room.
Breaking down the estimated costs of the 1-6 year needs includes approximately $820,000 for HVAC upgrades. These upgrades include things like updating the HVAC system in the Freshmen Hall, Science rooms, and Technical Education area. These items combined cost an estimated $376,000. Another major investment in this area is air conditioning in the oldest parts of the building. This has a projected cost of $350,000. The remainder of the costs in this area are comprised of transitioning pneumatic controls to new electrical controls tying them into our DDC control system and replacing a roof top unit that is past its useful life.
Electrical updates are another area in need of renovation. These updates comprise approximately $400,000 of the $5.9 million project. Roughly $365,000 of the amount in this area centers around replacing the electrical distribution and lighting in the Technical Education shop, Freshmen Hallway area, and Science rooms. The remainder of the amount deals with updating emergency lighting in certain areas to meet new code and removing unused cable that is not installed to current standards and codes.
Another major undertaking in the Middle/Senior High School is the remodeling of different areas within the building. The first area is a complete renovation of the Science labs to include new equipment, cabinets, laboratory tables, classroom tables, lighting, flooring, ceilings, paint, and infrastructure. The area also includes asbestos tile that needs to be properly abated. This portion of the project will account for an estimated $785,000.
The next renovation area is the Technical Education Shop. This includes new lighting, flooring, infrastructure, layout, and some new equipment. The estimated cost of this renovation is $360,000. This will allow us to greatly refresh this entire area to create a much more modernized area to better prepare our students.
Another area of renovation is the creation of a second girls’ Locker Room. Currently the district only has one girls’ Locker Room and two boys’ Locker Rooms. This situation is a violation of Title IX, the federal legislation for gender equality. The estimated cost of the Locker Room renovation is $500,000.
A final area of major renovation is the Freshmen Hall. This is one of the oldest parts of the building and is in need of renovation work. The proposed work for this area is new windows ($96,000), new finishes in the classrooms ($60,000), and renovation of the Art Room ($180,000). Overall, this will greatly improve the oldest part of our building and address some major maintenance needs.
The second aspect of the Middle/Senior High School project is the creation of a commons at the front of the building and the addition of a Wrestling/Multi-Purpose Room and Weight Room. The commons at the Middle/Senior High School is another major renovation that is part of the Middle/Senior High School project. This commons space will be located where the current MS/HS Office and District Office are located. The commons will greatly improve traffic flow during events and provide a quality gathering space for concessions, a school store, and various other activities for the district. The estimated cost of this remodel is $450,000. Due to the new Commons, the District Office and the High School Office need to be relocated. The relocation of these office spaces is estimated to cost $460,000.
The addition to the Middle/Senior High School will include a new Wrestling/Multi-Purpose Room and Weight Room. Combined, these areas have an estimated cost of $750,000. With the movement to Lifetime Fitness during Physical Education our current Weight Room is undersized. The new Weight Room, along with a Wrestling/Multi-Purpose Room will be a center of activity both during the school day and outside of the school day.
The remainder of the $5.9 million project is made up of contingency, architectural fees, and equipment to be used throughout the building. This amount is in line with industry averages for a project similar to the project the district is proposing.
The breakdown of the projected $8.1 million of projects at Caddie Woodlawn can be broken down in a similar fashion. The majority of the estimated costs at Caddie Woodlawn is found in the 20,000 square foot addition. The other two major areas of the project are the refresh of the remaining areas of the building and addressing our 1-6 year needs.
The 20,000 square foot addition at Caddie Woodlawn is estimated to cost $3.2 million. This is based on an estimated cost of $160 per square foot. When looking at the addition, the largest portion of the addition is the gymnasium. The gymnasium is projected to be approximately 8,000 square feet bringing the estimated cost to $1.28 million. The four classrooms are projected to be approximately 1000 square feet per room bringing the estimated cost of the classrooms to $640,000. The remaining 8,000 square feet of the addition is bathrooms and a commons area that will double as the cafeteria during the school day.
When looking at the 1-6 year needs at Caddie Woodlawn, the projected cost for these are $1.61 million. The largest area in regards to projected costs are the building needs. The estimated building needs are $830,000, with the largest projected cost being roofing at $340,000. Another major expense in this area is ADA compliance. This will bring the bathrooms up to code and provide access to the lower level via an elevator. The projected cost of ADA compliance is $210,000. The remaining portion is replacing doors, sinks, windows, classroom casework, and asbestos removal.
Another major projected cost within the 1-6 year needs is the HVAC area. The projected costs to address the HVAC needs are $467,000. The majority of those costs are estimated to be in replacing the central heating equipment and heat pumps, along with addressing any needed ductwork. The estimated cost for this portion of the project is $272,000. The remaining projects associated with the HVAC are updating the controls so they can be monitored from one system, replacing the cooling tower, and replacing the heat recovery units and ventilation system.
A final area of the 1-6 year needs is electrical upgrades. The estimated cost of this portion of the 1-6 year needs is $309,000. The majority of this is replacing the distribution panels, feeders, branch circuits, and electrical devices in the original portion of the building. This is estimated to make up $265,000 of the $309,000.
Another area of the project deals with refreshing the existing classrooms and the relocation of the kitchen to the front of the building. The refresh of the classrooms includes things like flooring, lights, ceilings, and fixtures. Using a basic $25 per square foot cost, the estimated cost of this portion of the project is $1.33 million. Couple that with an estimated $300,000 to relocate the kitchen, which brings this estimated project cost to $1.63 million.
The remainder of the work at Caddie Woodlawn is the replacement of the parking lot and building site work, along with fees, contingency, and equipment. As stated earlier this is in line with industry averages.
Overall, the projects the district is proposing are vast and touch almost all areas of the two buildings. Every student in the district will see a change and improvement in our school buildings. This will help us better reach the 21st Century learner.