SPS board approves construction bid for new Reed school, expected to save 'millions'

The bid approved Tuesday to construct a new middle school, the Reed Academy of Fine and Performing Arts, was millions under the expected amount.

Travis Shaw, deputy superintendent of operations, said the construction part of the budget was $46.7 million, of which the district had already spent about $1.7 million — $975,000 to demolish the existing school and $713,000 to buy up property nearby.

He said the two construction bids received for the project were close and the lowest was $39.7 million from DeWitt Construction, which was unanimously approved by the board.

The step clears the way for construction to begin. The project is expected to be done in 2026.

The final tally leaves the district $5.2 million under what it expected to spend on the construction of the new school at Lyon Avenue and Atlantic Street.

"This is really exciting to get to this point and have a firm bid that is under what our budget was," said board member Kelly Byrne. "What we are looking at here is hard costs. There are still soft costs on top of that."

In August, the board received a preview of the proposed design for Reed, which was based in part on input from teachers and staff. The presentation was from Sapp Design Architects.

Plans call for the 128,900-square-foot building to serve 725 students in grades 6-8. There will be 21 core classrooms, six science combo labs and two collaboration spaces.

The layout includes 23,620 square feet for the performing arts including two rooms each for choir and world dance and one each for band and orchestra. There is also a multi-purpose auditorium with a stage, sound booth, storage and seating for 450 people.

Byrne is one of three board members who work closely with the district to take a deeper look at the details of the bond projects, including before proposals go to the entire governing body. Other members include Scott Crise and Judy Brunner.

"The process has been long and I've been vocal along the way and I think is indicative of ... us focusing on the process and doing the process," Byrne said.

Byrne said the process started with the Community Task Force on Facilities and resulted in voter approval of a $220 million bond issue in April 2023. For the Reed project, it also included contracting with Navigate Building Solutions to represent the district at each stage by providing updated cost estimates, reviewing plans for accuracy and making suggestions.

"We got the process right. Without having done all of that, you just increase the likelihood for variability and mistakes," Byrne said.

Speaking directly to Shaw, he said: "This is evidence that that process worked well and your team is very much in control and doing a fantastic job."

Crise added: "It was money well spent to bring in Navigate. ...They can prove that they paid for themselves and then some."

Shaw said the middle school will take two years to construct and a contingency is built into the budget to account for any higher or unforeseen costs, which is standard.

"There will be change orders," he said. "You can expect that to be around 3% (more) on a new construction project."

The total budget for the project — which includes architectural design and engineering work — is $59.4 million.

Other bond projects

Reed is the first of three major construction projects funded by the 2023 bond to get started. The building is gone and the school is operating, temporarily, out of the former Jarrett building on Jefferson Avenue.

A complete overhaul of the Pershing Elementary and Middle School campus — which will only serve grades 6-8 in the future — will be designed later this year.

Plans to build a new Pipkin Middle School, which had been designed, are on hold until the district finds a suitable campus.

An earlier site proposed by the district was abandoned after significant pushback from the community.

The bond included safety upgrades including protective film on the first-floor glass at all buildings. Shaw said safety audits have been completed at each building to identify where door sensors and other access controls are needed, which is the next step.

More: These 'high-priority' school security changes aim to make Springfield students safer

Six elementary schools are slated to receive new storm shelters, which will enhance safety and provide extra space.

Construction has started at four of the schools: Mann, Pittman, Watkins and Wilder. The storm shelter projects at Cowden and Holland will begin this summer.

Shaw said challenges or higher than expected bids have increased the cost above estimates at Mann, Wilder, Cowden and Holland.

However, the cost is expected to be lower than the budgeted amount at Watkins and Pittman.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: SPS board approves bid to build Reed, expected to save 'millions'