LPOSD outlines building timeline

SANDPOINT — The current economic climate makes this a good time to construct additions at Kootenai and Sagle elementary schools, said Supt. Dick Cvitanich.

Although there is no way of predicting the future, “we’re in a pretty good spot,” he said at Wednesday’s regular board meeting. Trustees approved a timeline for hiring an architect during the meeting.

The additions at both schools are a major component of the $14.1 million Lake Pend Oreille School District plant facilities levy approved by voters in May.

The timeline takes into account a 40-day window in which the election can be contested from the day the election was canvassed. That deadline is July 1.

Following legal publication in the Daily Bee on July 8 and 15, request for qualification forms will be sent to interested architectural firms on July 8, with the forms to returned by July 18.

Although that time frame is relatively short, the project already has generated interest, said LPOSD business manager Lisa Hals.

A committee will then review the architects’ qualifications and conduct interviews if necessary on Aug. 7.

A special board meeting is scheduled for Aug. 9 to approve a contract with the selected architectural firm. The selection will be made based upon the firm that fulfill’s the district’s requirements, including one that understands the district’s need to be frugal.

Although the district must select the lowest bidder for the construction portion of the project, that is not the case with the architect. Generally, architects charge 7 to 8 percent of a project’s construction cost, Hals said.

The district has already started the process of seeking bids on other projects as part of the levy. At a board meeting earlier this month, the board approved request for bids for 22 projects.

For the first time facilities director Sid Rayfield said he has had to separate building projects into three categories based upon funding sources — insurance and federal assistance for damage caused to roofs by heavy snow this past winter, general fund sources and the plant facilities levy.

In other board business, trustees:

? Heard reports on Safe and Drug Free Schools, ISAT test scores, and discussed the selection of a citizens advisory committee for the plant facilties levy.