Kaneland approves bid to build middle school

The Kaneland School Board approved a bid of about $35.8 million to construct a new middle school in Sugar Grove.

The winning bid was about 7 percent below the district's previous estimate, according to John Maurer of Ruck Pate Architecture. The work will be carried out by the construction firm of Nicholas & Associates, Maurer said.

In February, Kaneland voters approved a $65 million referendum to fund construction of the new middle school on Harter Road. An attempted referendum the previous fall had failed.

The school, which will house about 1,200 students, is scheduled to open in August 2009.

The wait to begin construction cost the district only about 2 percent in increased costs, Maurer said.

Certain materials turned out to be substantially more expensive than budgeted, but were balanced by savings in other areas.

"Masonry was almost 50 percent over our estimate -- about $1.7 million," said Maurer.

Fireproofing the building, landscaping, steel material, and drywall costs also exceeded their previous cost estimates.

Fortunately, the winning bid came in with lower than expected costs for heating and air conditioning, concrete, and plumbing and electrical work.

"This time of year is a good time for competitive bids," Maurer said.

Nine construction firms bid on the project, Maurer said.

Nicholas & Associates previously worked on additions to the existing high school, including the fine arts wing and the auditorium.

Maurer expressed confidence in the company's plan.

"We sat down with them and they were very well prepared to discuss scheduling, and each number and how they got it," said Maurer.

He added that the company will have three superintendents on site to supervise the construction work, and that the building plan will be monitored and updated weekly.

"They hope to have the building under roof by the end of this year, so it will be ready for the start of school," Maurer said.

He added that adverse weather could affect the construction schedule.

"The only issue will be if we end up having three months of consecutive rain at the front end here."