Jackson soon will begin construction of grade school

Major construction work on a seventh elementary building in the Jackson School District could begin within a few months, now that general contracting bids are in the hands of school officials.

The school board is expected to choose a general contractor for the voter-approved project during its Aug. 13 meeting, superintendent Ron Anderson said.

Last year, about 70 percent of voters approved allowing the district to extend bond issue payments through 2031 to pay for the new school, which will be on 15 acres of district-owned land on North Lacey Street. Plans are for classrooms to hold four sections of kindergarten through fifth grades, a music room, art room, gym, cafeteria, library and 10 preschool classrooms.

Bids from 11 companies have been received by the district and are being reviewed by an architect.

The bids, listed from low to high:

* ICS Construction Services: $15,489,000

* K&S Associates: $15,489,000

* Brockmiller Construction: $15,499,000

* Robinson Construction Co.: $15,625,000

* Brinkman Constructors: $15,840,000

* Wright Construction Services: $16,084,000

* Penzel Construction Co.: $16,180,000

* Zoellner Construction Co.: $16,240,000

* Morrissey Construction Co.: $16,299,000

* Orf Construction: $16,321,000

* River City Construction: $16,727,000

Jackson schools' chief financial officer, Wade Bartels, said all the bids received came in near the amount district staff expected. Since the initial announcement of the campaign to add an elementary building, about $16 million has been quoted as the cost.

No completion date is yet set for the school, because finishing the construction and readying the school for occupancy could depend on several factors, including weather, Anderson said.

Anderson said he expects the district to begin discussions on redrawing elementary school boundaries later this year.

Taken into account during that process, Anderson said, will be efforts to balance enrollment numbers at the other six schools by working with the district's transportation director, because reducing large class sizes at several schools is a priority for the district.

The residential population in the areas near the school also are important factors that will be examined by officials.

Where boundaries will be drawn also will depend how much surrounding neighborhoods grow. The school will be in an area of Jackson where subdivisions are quickly adding homes.

"There are times in the past, with other new schools, I wish we would have waited longer to draw boundaries," Anderson said, "to make sure it works out the best way possible."

The 98,000-square-foot school also is expected to provide needed space in the district's public preschool program. In 2012, nearly 100 children who did not need special services were placed on a waiting list. Enrollment numbers for preschool are not yet available for the coming school year, but district officials expect similar demand.

eragan@semissourian.com

388-3627

Pertinent address:

North Lacey Street and Stotler Way, Jackson, MO

614 E. Adams St., Jackson, MO