Earlier, the district received good news when estimated costs for high school pool renovations were $1.3 million less than originally projected without scaling back any of the original plans. This cost savings will allow the district to construct four more elementary classrooms than originally planned.
Bids will go out this month for the 14 new elementary classrooms – six at McFall and four each at Lee and Page. School officials have been working closely with GMB Architects and Engineers and Owen-Ames-Kimball Construction Company to finalize plans and prepare the bid process. The bids will be received by mid-July and carefully reviewed before awards are made.
TK Schools has witnessed steady growth and in the last five years has grown by about 200 students. Much of the growth is being seen at the elementary levels.
As the bids are going out for this first phase, TK officials are continuing to work on design plans for the second phase – construction of the new Learning Center for preschool programs, early childhood special education, Great Start Readiness and day care programs. The new building will be built on land on the northwest corner of an 80-acre parcel the district owns on the east side of Bender Road.
Design planning for the new building starts this month with the district planning to go out for bids for the project by January 2021. Construction is estimated to start in May 2021 with completion in the summer of 2022.
Voters approved the $42.8 million bond with projects broken down into three main areas of focus: Basic needs, growth and enhanced learning environments. Basic needs include items like selective flooring, roofing, ceiling and door and window upgrades, replacement of aged building components such as classroom partitions, cafeteria tables, bleachers, emergency generator and clock system, parking lot renovations, and other needs. Growth needs address the need for additional classroom space in the schools and the construction of the new Learning Center. Enhanced learning environments include installation of air conditioning in all learning areas, renovations to the pool.