By Taylor J. Hale
Staff Writer

STEVENS POINT – Stevens Point Area Senior High will see some updates this year. A roll call vote at the July 15 Stevens Point Area Public School District Special school board meeting carried a motion to approve a bid package for renovations at the high school.

A Nov. 2018 referendum approved the groundwork for the project. The bid package consists of 12 worksite areas, each with a selected bidder to complete the projects. Staff noted that bids for masonry updates are still being evaluated.

The selected contractors are: Earthwork and Site Utilities: Ellis Constructions, $549,000; Paving/Curb/Gutter: Boldt Construction, $393,403; General Construction: Boldt Construction, $2,726,337; Steel Studs and Drywall: Boldt Construction, $258,081; Painting and Drywall: Rice, $186,716; Flooring: Boldt Construction, $582,678; Ceilings: Austad, $132,900; Plumbing: August Winter, $264,200; Fire Protection: Integrity, $145,276; Electrical: McMillan Electric, $1,100,000; and Food Services: Kavenaugh, $533,275.

Concerns were brought up at the meeting about choosing the lowest bidder for each selection, with some bidders coming in at nearly half the cost of other contractors. Superintendent Craig Gerlach noted that the companies involved would be held responsible for completing the project to the specifications required by the school district.

“They are responsible to meet the specs,” Gerlach said. “If they underbid their cost, they are still responsible for completing [the project].”
The motion was passed anonymously, with board members Ann Vang and Meg Erler absent.