BROKEN BOW–Construction on the new preschool project is set to begin in Broken Bow on September 1. The Broken Bow Public Schools Board of Education met in regular session on Monday, August 17 and approved the contract with Chief Construction out of Grand Island in a 4 to 1 vote. (Board member Tim Chancellor was absent and excused from the meeting and therefore did not vote.)
Conversations about a preschool section being added to the north side of North Park Elementary have been going on for at least the last year and a half with the school board experiencing a halt last year when bids for the project came in too high. (Click here for the August 20, 2019 story.)
On Monday evening, a motion was made by board member Pam Holcomb (seconded by Mary Shaw) to approve the contract with the final bid of $1,899,000. The contract includes a $100,000 contingency meaning the board can spend up to approximately $1,999,495 if necessary–not to exceed that amount.
Superintendent Darren Tobey said construction on the project is set to begin September 1, 2020 and is expected to be completed by July 1, 2021.
In February 2019 the public conversation began during a school board work session outlining the possibility of adding three preschool classrooms, additional sensory rooms, and office space to the north end of North Park Elementary near the kindergarten classrooms.
The goal of adding the preschool to North Park is to save money and become more efficient. Former Special Education Director Nikki Altig said preschool space within North Park would “allow us to become more efficient in so many aspects.” Administrators said more resources would be available throughout the day.
“Us running a preschool out of a building that’s big enough to house an entire middle school. It just doesn’t make a whole lot of sense,” Tobey said in February 2019.
Also during the February 2019 work session, Tobey presented estimated savings of $164,425 per year if Custer is closed vs. savings of $158,725 per year if Custer remains open.
Following Monday night’s board meeting Mr. Tobey said lease purchasing of the finances for the preschool project will be discussed at the work session on Monday, August 31 at 7:30 p.m. in the Broken Bow High School Library. The public is invited to the work session at the end of this month for the budget and tax levy hearings.
Stay tuned for more information from Monday night’s meeting.
Regarding the preschool project,
Click here to view the June 18 story
Click here to view the May 20 story
Click here to view the April 23 story
Click here to view the April 18 story
Click here to view the February 9 story
