B-E School Board approves third bid package for expansion project

EVANSVILLE — The Brandon-Evansville School Board approved the third bid package for its ongoing expansion and renovation project.

The action was taken at the board's regular meeting on Monday, Nov. 21.

There are 19 contracts as part of the bid package, said Sean Lewis of ICS Consulting.

"We've already done two contracts as part of bid package one and two contracts as part of bid package two, for a total of 23 contracts," Lewis said.

He added, "The total for this recommendation for bid package three is another $12,401,087. ICS and the project oversight committee have reviewed this together, and we would recommend approval tonight."

The contracts were approved, as was a resolution authorizing the issuance and sale of the district's general obligation school building bonds.

At a school board meeting held in August, Lewis said the plan is to start foundation work in spring 2023, first at Evansville, then Brandon, followed by interior renovations.

The project will be complete in the fall of 2024 according to this plan, Lewis said.

At the Evansville school, two administrative office spaces will be renovated and turned into classrooms, a drive-through lane will be added, as well as two new classrooms, a new multi-use space and an administrative office suite, Lewis said.

At the Brandon school, there will be a new gymnasium, administrative suite, entry, restrooms and more classroom space, among other changes, Lewis said.

The project was approved through a referendum last November that authorized the issuing of general obligation school building bonds that will not exceed $14.5 million and will go toward "the betterment of school sites and facilities."

A structure at the Evansville school from 1917 was demolished this summer as part of the project.