Highland School District 5 keeping their options open on bids for new primary school

Highland District 5 has chosen some alternative bid options for the upcoming school construction program to help the project come in on budget.

Highland plans to construct a new primary school near Poplar Street and Arkansas Road to serve pre-kindergarten through second grades with approximately 650 students and 70 staff members, as well as an expansion to Highland Middle School.

Superintendent Mike Sutton said the construction management company, Korte Construction, has estimated the design development budget for both projects will be about $48.4 million, which is $1.5 million more than estimates from the schematic design phase in October and higher than the original $42 million budget set by the district.

Funding for the project comes from bonds approved by a tax referendum last year, as well as $1.5 million in interest revenue, $1.85 million in additional local commitment and so on. After the first round came in over budget, Highland school leaders committed to buying all technology and furniture from local funds, which trimmed another $1 million from the budget.

“We have discussed using funds from a number of different sources to make up the difference,” Sutton said.

One thing won’t happen: Sutton does not anticipate any additional impact on the amount of bonds or the tax rates paid by Highland homeowners as a result of the rising costs.

At a special meeting early in January, the Highland School Board identified a number of alternate bids that they hope will bring down costs, including the vocational classroom at Highland Middle School, the covered walkway at Highland Primary School, and two of the classrooms at Highland Primary.

“Of course, the classrooms are the highest priority, so we plan to do everything possible to ensure that they are included in the project,” Sutton said.

The Highland Primary project includes 88,896 square feet and is estimated at $38.9 million. The middle school addition is 13,924 square feet and estimated at $6.3 million. Necessary renovations at Highland Elementary due to the demolition of the existing Highland Primary are estimated at $3.15 million.