Procurement News Notice |
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| PNN | 1208 |
| Work Detail | Construction has begun on two buildings that will house 16 classrooms at Redding's Columbia Elementary School, the long-awaited result of a 2014 bond measure passed by district voters. Gifford Construction broke ground on the project Aug. 11, Superintendent Clay Ross said, and it's slated for completion well in time for next year's classes — likely in June. The roughly $5.4 million construction project is funded through the $8.6 million bond voters approved in 2014 for upgrades at the east Redding school. Eventually, the rest of the money will be used for less crucial upgrades, including improvements to the gym, more fencing as well as parking and security upgrades. "It's just exciting every day," Ross said. "We've got a class of first-graders, every day when they go to lunch, they blow kisses to the workers. That's their way of thanking the contractors for working on a new school." Depending on enrollment, it's possible all of the first- through fourth-grade classes at Columbia could be rehoused in the new facilities next year, Ross said. "We've had kids out on the playgrounds with their fingers locked in the chain-link fence, just watching," he said. The new classrooms will replace portable ones that are almost 30 years old, Ross said. In a common predicament administrators of old schools face, the question became one of constant upkeep or taking a risk with a bond for a new facility. The district had already gone out for a bond in 2008 that narrowly failed, so Ross said officials honed the proposal and communicated it better with voters to get a much-needed win in 2014. Since district residents are paying for the project with the bond, the money can't be taken by the state or used on anything but what was specified to voters, including to pay salaries. Also mandatory for any school-bond measure is an independent oversight committee tasked with making sure those things don't happen. |
| Country | United States , Northern America |
| Industry | Construction |
| Entry Date | 02 Sep 2016 |
| Source | http://www.redding.com/news/education/construction-from-86-million-bond-begins-at-columbia-elementary-3b3a212a-eb31-73ec-e053-0100007fa983-391677631.html |
