Final construction bids approved for district’s Transforming Spaces facilities plan

On Dec. 19, the Edina School Board (EPS) approved bids for the remaining construction projects related to the Next Gen Facilities Plan. Bidding for all projects funded by the $124.9 million bond referendum, passed by voters in 2015, is now complete and the facilities plan remains on target and on budget, according to Margo Bauck, business services director.

Approved at the meeting was a bid of just under $6.3 million for additions and renovations at Creek Valley and Highlands elementary schools, and a bid of $12.3 million for renovations at Valley View Middle School. The board also approved a $1.15 million bid for earthwork related to construction at South View Middle School. (The building construction bids for South View were approved earlier in the year.) In addition, a bid of $96,322 was approved for the purchase of fitness equipment for the newly constructed Wellness Center at Edina High School.

Chad Rettke, Kraus-Anderson construction executive and construction manager for the EPS projects, told the Board that the school sites’ ability to be flexible with timing and allow some aspects of construction to take place during the school year has helped the overall facilities plan remain on time and on budget. “The labor market for construction right now is very tight,” he said. “Being able to work on projects outside of the short summer construction window has helped keep construction projects time and cost efficient.”

Construction on Next Gen Facilities Plan projects is expected to be complete in spring 2019.