Published: June 03, 2008 10:07 pm      

Construction in the works for Edmond Public Schools

EDMOND — Edmond School Board members voted Monday to accept a bid of $5.3 million for additions to Northern Hills Elementary School.

Atlas General Contractors was awarded the contract, which will include 12 classrooms at the school.

The base bid of $5.26 million will be paid for by bond money and additional projects at the school in the sum of close to $550,000 will be paid for with money left over from earlier projects as well as the district’s interest earnings.

An additional $21,000 was authorized for replacement of fuse boxes made in the 1960s that are no longer manufactured.

“It’s not a safety issue right now. It’s finding parts,” said Bret Towne, associate superintendent for district operations.

Discussion was held to leave off the extra projects, but Towne urged board members to include them in the bid because there would be additional costs if members waited and bid the projects separately at a later date.

“Anything you can build today or bid you need to do it,” Towne said. “Even three months can make a difference (in costs).”

Final plans for additions and renovations to Summit Middle School and Charles Haskell Elementary School were approved by board members, as were the final plans for renovation of Memorial High School’s auditorium.

Board members gave authorization for the architect to proceed with the bidding process at all three sites.

In other business, board members approved plans for an expanded security system at Clegern Elementary School and authorized bidding. Towne said the school will have more than 25 security cameras and access through controlled entrances at the front of the school.

Administrators will review the program after it is implemented to decide what will work at other schools.

“It’s our test bed for a comprehensive security system at a school,” Towne said.