The Yough School Board tentatively awarded $16.87 million in construction contracts Monday for the middle school renovation project.
The contracts, contingent upon state Department of Education approval, were given to:
The renovation entails demolishing the oldest section of the school and rebuilding it. When finished, it will contain general-purpose, science and art rooms. A new wing will be built off the cafeteria to house a new auditorium, band and music rooms, a wrestling room, and a lobby for the auditorium and cafeteria.
The bids had come in about 18 percent higher than the district estimated. Hayes Large LLP architect Mark Trimbur and Superintendent Larry Nemec have said that is because of rapidly increasing costs for materials, such as steel.
Last night, the board was able to pare the cost by $242,000 by opting to use a different type of electrical wiring and to forgo installing metal awnings.
Despite those measures, the board still needs to cut costs further, which means that it likely will scale back plans for the high school renovation.
Under that project, three separate additions are to be built -- one for an auxiliary gym, another to house a larger wood shop and a third that would increase the cafeteria's size. Bids had come in about $600,000 lower than estimates. Contracts are to be awarded next month.
The board probably will cut the auxiliary gym, leading to savings of around $930,000.
Board Vice President Richard Mills said that as much as the gym is needed, he doesn't see how the district could afford it. In addition, the district must figure out whether it can reallocate some of the roughly $800,000 it had set aside for middle school furniture.
