Manchester Schools Accept Gym Renovation Bids
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
NORTH MANCHESTER -ÊManchester school board unanimously accepted a total contract bid Tuesday for Manchester High School's gymnasium renovation.
The bid amount totaled $1,694,100, which is within the budgeted $2 million amount, said Danna Wannemacher, project architect from Barton Coe Vilamaa Architects Engineers, Fort Wayne.
The project proposal includes four rooftop mechanical air units to segregate the gym's air-conditioning system from the rest of the building, according to Wannemacher's project bid report.
MHS assistant principal Randy Self said "air quality" is the biggest concern for the additional units, not keeping cool for "comfortability's sake."
"I am far more concerned with air quality issues" and the effects on students' health, like asthma, said MHS principal Nancy Alspaugh.
The school overuses the current 60-ton ice harvester cooling system, Self said.
The project amount includes: Hamilton Hunter Builders, Bluffton, bidding $744,000 for the project's general construction; Industrial Piping & Engineering, Fort Wayne, bidding $717,600 for general mechanical and air-conditioning unit construction; and Huston Electric, Kokomo, bidding $232,500 for general electric construction for the gymnasium and air-conditioning units.
A visitor raised concern about the school corporation's indebtedness and higher-than-average tax rate as shown in the Indiana State University professor's feasibility study.
Acting superintendent Kim Thurston rehashed a school-budget point, saying the money saved in a particular fund cannot "in any way help us in our current financial situation." An appropriated fund cannot change funds with another purpose.
In other business, the school board:
• Responded to a visitor questioning whether the board "really wanted parental opinions" in regard to the task force.
The task force was set up before the feasibility study presentation, said board member Brad Perrott. But the school board arranged that so members would get more out of Boyd's presentation instead of hearing a secondhand account, he said.
The board is "taking a slow and cautious look" at the situation's options, said Perrott. But a decision will be made before the 2002-03 school year, he said.
• Voted to seek quotes for a study on teacher retirement insurance liability.
The study's purpose is to show "where we are" and to give advice for where the corporation should go, said Thurston.
The school board members are: president Sally Krouse, vice president Virginia Gunter, secretary Brad Perrott, Thom Frantz, Todd Speicher, Kent Trickle, acting superintendent Kim Thurston and School corporation attorney Al Schlitt. Larry Miller was absent from the meeting. [[In-content Ad]]
NORTH MANCHESTER -ÊManchester school board unanimously accepted a total contract bid Tuesday for Manchester High School's gymnasium renovation.
The bid amount totaled $1,694,100, which is within the budgeted $2 million amount, said Danna Wannemacher, project architect from Barton Coe Vilamaa Architects Engineers, Fort Wayne.
The project proposal includes four rooftop mechanical air units to segregate the gym's air-conditioning system from the rest of the building, according to Wannemacher's project bid report.
MHS assistant principal Randy Self said "air quality" is the biggest concern for the additional units, not keeping cool for "comfortability's sake."
"I am far more concerned with air quality issues" and the effects on students' health, like asthma, said MHS principal Nancy Alspaugh.
The school overuses the current 60-ton ice harvester cooling system, Self said.
The project amount includes: Hamilton Hunter Builders, Bluffton, bidding $744,000 for the project's general construction; Industrial Piping & Engineering, Fort Wayne, bidding $717,600 for general mechanical and air-conditioning unit construction; and Huston Electric, Kokomo, bidding $232,500 for general electric construction for the gymnasium and air-conditioning units.
A visitor raised concern about the school corporation's indebtedness and higher-than-average tax rate as shown in the Indiana State University professor's feasibility study.
Acting superintendent Kim Thurston rehashed a school-budget point, saying the money saved in a particular fund cannot "in any way help us in our current financial situation." An appropriated fund cannot change funds with another purpose.
In other business, the school board:
• Responded to a visitor questioning whether the board "really wanted parental opinions" in regard to the task force.
The task force was set up before the feasibility study presentation, said board member Brad Perrott. But the school board arranged that so members would get more out of Boyd's presentation instead of hearing a secondhand account, he said.
The board is "taking a slow and cautious look" at the situation's options, said Perrott. But a decision will be made before the 2002-03 school year, he said.
• Voted to seek quotes for a study on teacher retirement insurance liability.
The study's purpose is to show "where we are" and to give advice for where the corporation should go, said Thurston.
The school board members are: president Sally Krouse, vice president Virginia Gunter, secretary Brad Perrott, Thom Frantz, Todd Speicher, Kent Trickle, acting superintendent Kim Thurston and School corporation attorney Al Schlitt. Larry Miller was absent from the meeting. [[In-content Ad]]