Improvement projects approved for West Aurora High School

The West Aurora School District board has approved a number of improvement projects, including the renovation of some classrooms, to be done this summer at West Aurora High School.

The board recently awarded a contract of $7.2 million to Lite Construction Inc. of Montgomery for the work. There were eight bidders of record and four were received, with Lite Construction being the lowest responsive bidder, officials said.

Board members earlier this month were presented with information about the high school work, which includes renovation of a culinary arts classroom and a fashion/interior design classroom, plus the renovation of a classroom on the second floor of the school.

The work will also include interior door and exterior window replacements and concrete work at the high school loading dock, as well as the replacement of a freight elevator at the school.

West Aurora Capital Projects Manager Pat Dacy also presented a project update to the board, mainly about proposed sidewalk concrete replacement at nine district facilities.

“The most extensive work is at Herget Middle School which makes up about one-third of the project,” Dacy told the board.

The work was designed by civil engineering firm MeritCorp Group, LLC of Aurora. Three bids for the concrete replacement project were received in mid-February.

“The bids were reviewed and the qualifications were verified,” Dacy said.

MeritCorp has recommended a base bid of $621,000 plus a contingency allowance of $75,000 for any other possible work on the project.

“Sometimes we use this money if we want to add work for a sidewalk that was not identified,” he said about the contingency allowance. “It can also be used if we remove a sidewalk and there is contaminated soil.”

The procedure to remove the soil may cost additional funds, he said.

The total contract amount for concrete replacement is for $706,500. A vote to award the contract to the lowest bidder will be held at the next school board meeting in March.

Dacy also presented information for proposed roofing improvements at West Aurora High School and the West Aurora Learning Center for a total amount of $240,420.

“The roof above the high school kitchen needs full replacement plus there is a need for some duct and ventilation work,” Dacy said.

The second part of the project relates to a metal coping cap at the West Aurora Learning Center, he said.

Dacy said the district received only two bids, most likely due to the size of the job. A vote to award the roofing contract will be held in March as well, officials said.

Linda Girardi is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.