Small Town News

School board awards contract for district building

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The North Mason School Board has voted to approve a contract for a new district administration building.

During its May 19 board meeting, members reviewed six bids from contractors for a project to improve an annex building, located at 200 E. Campus Drive in Belfair, and create a new district office.

The board voted to enter a contract with the low bidder, the Berschauer Group, from Olympia.

The contractor estimates a base bid of $1.63 million for the basic work required.

The contractor included two alternative bids.

The first is a bid of $92,000 to replace the roof.

"That is really important because the roof is nearing the end of its life cycle and that would give us about 30 years on that building without having to worry about that," said Superintendent Dana Rosenbach.

The second is $3,000 to replace the toilet partitions in the bathrooms.

The total project is estimated to cost $1.725 million.

Rosenbach said that the Berschauer Group is also working on the new Hawkins Middle School, which will help speed up the group's time frame on both the middle school and district office projects.

"Some of the work that they would have to come and set up to do, they're already set up for," she said. "As they finish with Hawkins and move into the parking lot area, they can just have their teams also be working on the annex."

The construction project is scheduled to take place during the summer.

The new building is slated to open this fall with new furniture, fixtures and equipment.

Because of the upgrade, the board also voted to surplus, or sell, numerous items from the current building.

The surplus sale will take place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 28, and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. May 31 and June 1 at the annex building, 200 E. Campus Drive.

Items available include tables, chairs, shelves, desks, lockers, hardware, file cabinets and whiteboards.

All purchases much be removed by the purchaser within two business days.

Payments can be made with cash, check or purchase order.

Appointments are available, but shoppers are welcome to drop in whenever.

For more information, contact Mark Swofford at 277-2165, or email mswofford@northmasonschools.org.

THELER CENTER UPDATE

Rosenbach said that she anticipates scheduling another study session soon to talk with the school board about options that could be available for the Mary E. Theler Wetlands and Community Center.

Rosenbach said she has been talking to some governmental agencies that may be interested in acquiring ownership of the property and would continue a partnership with the school district to keep the area open for student learning.

"We could do what we're supposed to do, and someone else could do what they're supposed to do in the park, while we can just focus on the education side," the superintendent said.

She said she'll schedule a meeting once she has some "concrete things" to bring to the board.

The school district owns and operates the center and wetlands, but the trust that was set up by the late Sam Theler to fund the wetlands is set to dissolve later this year, leaving the district with no money to pay for the wetlands and community center.

The school board has held several study sessions and a public hearing for input on how to fund the wetlands.



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