Plans for new elementary evolving, becoming final
Plans for a new elementary school are moving forward, but several steps must be completed before construction workers can break ground. Whether it is finalizing plans or just needing more time for safety precautions, school officials delayed the start of construction.
“We knew there were two possibilities,” school board president Greg Williams said. “We could start construction and start this fall, which would put us probably in the building over Christmas break (in 2027-2028).”
Williams stated that starting too early can risk mistakes in the foundation and even giving teachers less time with family over Christmas break because of moving materials to the new building.
“Or the other option was delaying the start and work the designs and architectural prints in a timelier fashion and then start spring of ’27 to be in the building around the time school starts in ’28,” Williams said.
Williams stated that starting the building in the spring will ensure the whole summer for staff to move in and it will give time for more thought on designs and making sure no mistakes are made.
BCDM’s 2023 study estimated a cost of $7.7 million to fully renovate the elementary. Comparing the estimate cost of the new building to the estimate cost to renovate the old one, both Williams and superintendent PJ Quinn stated it would be pointless to spend the money to renovate the old building just to eventually need a new building. Taxpayers agreed by approving the bond issue last year.
“The first thoughts of a new building started to form within a couple years after some maintenance was performed to the exterior of the building,” Quinn said. “Approximately at the same time, we were planning to replace the exterior windows, and it came in question whether we should put that much money into the building if other systems would soon require significant investment.”
The ‘urgent’ category included $3.5 million in mechanical, electrical and life-safety system improvements for just the old building, and even that would later need replaced, according to Quinn.
Quinn said that the goal of the new building is centered on fiscal responsibility and the future of Mead Public Schools.
According to Quinn, they are still in the design process. The architect and the design team are approximately 80% finished with the blueprints for the building.
“We are using the construction method known as construction manager at risk,” Quinn said. “Once the plans are completely finished, the construction manager at risk will seek bid packages for the different categories of work included in the project.”
The construction companies estimate 12-14 months of construction. Since the building of the new school will start in the spring of 2027, students should be in the new building for the 2028-2029 school year, stated Williams.
BCDM estimated that a 40,000 square foot elementary added to the current junior-senior high would cost $15.2 million, and a stand-alone building was estimated at $18 million. According to Fakler’s 2024 study, a 40,000 square foot elementary would cost between $15 million and $17 million.
“What we had done was two different facility studies,” Quinn said. “So, the two different companies, BCDM and Fakler, told us the primary things you would have to do, and an estimate of what it might cost.”
According to Quinn, the board used both companies in its decision-making process.
For the effects on the high school during construction, there shouldn’t be many according to Quinn.
“We don’t think it will affect the school that much because for one thing, they’re going to use an alternate entrance for equipment, rather than the parking lot,” Quinn said. “There will hopefully be enough separation between most construction and the current building that it should not present a major disruption. When they make the link here to this building, that might, but it may work out that they can do it when school is not in session.”
Another effect on the high school now is that track and football activities will be moved. Football players now use the old baseball field for practice, and track throwers will also move to that area due to construction taking the old throwing rings.
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