The West Aurora School District board recently awarded low bids totaling $3.1 million for summer projects including roof replacement and repairs at West Aurora High School and Jewel Middle School.
The administration had budgeted nearly $3.4 million for the work.
The district had a roof analysis done district-wide and West Aurora High School in particular has multiple sections of roofing with some sections that are older than others.
District officials were pleased with the bids received.
“We are going to be able to accomplish projects faster than we originally anticipated,” Assistant Superintendent of Operations Angie Smith said. “We had planned to do just portions of the West Aurora High roof this year and Jewel Middle School next year. The bids were so favorable we are doing both this summer.”
The low bid of $1,879,557 for the roofing work was awarded to DCG Roofing Solutions of Melrose Park. Five companies submitted bids. The other base bids plus an alternate ranged from $1.9 million to $2.4 million for the high school and middle school roof repairs.
A low bid contract of $59,484 for metal siding refinishing at Jewel Middle School was awarded to Codeco Industries Inc. of La Grange. Another low bid for plumbing upgrades and restroom renovations at the high school of $747,723 was awarded to Alsip-based Construction Solutions of Illinois.
A low bid of $385,223 was awarded to Construction Solutions for upgrades to four high school science classroom labs.
All of the bids include allowance money that will be returned to the school district if they are not used as part of the projects, district officials said. The surplus funds will be reserved for needed pavement repairs and possibly any other additional projects.
“Ongoing maintenance is critical,” Smith said of the summer projects. “We want to attend to building needs in a timely fashion. We deliberately made sure we went out to bid earlier to get the best pricing possible in order to stretch our dollars as far as they can go. We want to make sure all of our buildings provide a comfortable learning environment for students and staff.”
Smith said the work needs to get done.
“Projects like roofs and plumbing may not be as exciting as the additions and new buildings we have had over the past few years, but they are just as important,” Smith said.
A majority of the projects will be done over the summer break.
“Some work will begin this spring if it can be done without disrupting our buildings, but the bulk will be done once students and staff have left for the summer and completed before they return,” she said.
