Ritzville School Board awards bid for modernization project, construction expected to begin mid-September - Teachers present to Boards as salary negotiations continue

The Ritzville School District moved one step closer to progressing on the Lind-Ritzville High School (LRHS) modernization project, after the Ritzville School Board of Directors unanimously awarded the construction contract to Walker Construction on Aug. 27.

The base bid submitted by Walker Construction for the modernization project is $8,725,000. With the consideration of bond and state match monies in mind, the Ritzville Board was also able to award the bid to include five alternate projects.

The alternate projects include adding an island and sidewalks at Gilson Gym, as well as ADA entry, wheel stops and a 1.5-inch asphalt overlay for a cost of $75,500. A secondary alternate is for reroofing the gymnasium, for the cost of $161,600.

As the third alternate on the project, Gilson Gym will also have a new HVAC unit installed, which is bid at $277,600.

The school board also approved an alternate to replace windows, doors and hardware in the vocational agriculture building for a cost of $23,300. The final alternate is for a parking lot for $93,000.

The total contract recommendation with Walker Construction is $9,356,000 without Washington State Sales Tax. With tax, the total cost is expected at $10,076,412.

Ritzville School District Business Manager Dana Telecky said the District will pleased with the response and bids they received. The District received four bids from contractors, which were opened on Aug. 23.

With the approval of the construction bid, Walker Construction and the Ritzville School District will move forward with completing appropriate paperwork to meeting OSPI and state match money obligations.

Telecky explained the resolutions approved on Monday by the school board will satisfy those requirements.

Along with the award of bid, the Ritzville Board also approved resolutions for constructability review report, intent to construct certification, and intent to use the modernized building for at least five years after completion with the useful life of the building being extended to 30 years.

Walker Construction is expected to be onsite at LRHS by the third week of September. The first step of the construction process will be asbestos abatement throughout the entire building.

During the Monday meeting, the majority of teachers throughout both the Lind and Ritzville districts showed up as a sign of solidarity as salary negotiations continue.

Jason Sanger, Connie Field and Maureen Harder spoke on behalf of the teachers. They focused on the McCleary Decision now leaving $2 billion statewide to be allocated to public school districts for teacher salaries.

The three representatives addressed the school boards together, explained the McCleary money has been sent to the districts for the past few years for other resources, but this year’s allocations are specifically for teacher salaries.

Harder stated the reserves for the districts have grown over the past few years, and the combined budgets at the beginning of last school year totals $915,000.

Field explained they are bargaining for a one-year contract, as they know what the funding looks like, and the funding is already here.

She urged the school board members to provide competitive, professional wages for teachers in order to attract and maintain a strong teaching staff in the local schools.