INDIAN RIVER COUNTY – The Indian River County School Board is expected to consider negotiating with a contractor to build the new campus for Vero Beach Elementary.
The $20 million project would be built next to the existing school site on 12th Street and would hold 750 students. The current school campus would be demolished once the new one was complete. School District employees, who sat as a committee to rank and recommend the contracting firm, selected Proctor Construction.
Nine firms responded of 108 that received the School District’s request for qualifications. Of those nine, the committee short-listed four for interviews.
The other top three firms were:
Pirtle Construction/Pinnacle Construction
PPI/Hayes Construction
Williams Company/Summit Construction Management Inc.
As part of the negotiations, the School District and Proctor Construction expect to agree on a guaranteed maximum price for the school construction project.
Last year, the Indian River County School Board secured approximately $25 million in federal bonds to help fund the construction of replacement campuses for both Vero Beach Elementary and Osceola Magnet.
The bonds are virtually interest free, according to School District Chief Financial Officer, which will save the district $20 million over length of the loan.
While the district plans to use a little more than $20 million of the bonds on Vero Beach Elementary, the remainder – coupled with the savings on the interest – will be used for Osceola Magnet’s project.
According to school district officials, it would not be cost effective to renovate Vero Beach Elementary’s campus.
The school has problems with its electrical and mechanical systems and its roof. The school also needs a new and better lighting system, officials have said.
As for Osceola Magnet, the new campus is expected to be built at Pointe West, replacing its current campus on 20th Street/State Road 60, where it suffers flooding due to heavy rain.
Concerns have also surrounded the school’s air quality, it plumbing and windows. The school also needs upgraded plumbing, lighting and electrical systems, officials have told the School Board.
The Osceola Magnet project is expected to get started during the 2011-2012 school year, while the new Vero Beach Elementary project could get started before the end of this year.