School projects moving closer

PONDERAY — As early as Thursday, attorneys could begin work on a contract with an architectural firm for additional classrooms at two Lake Pend Oreille School District schools.

At a special meeting held Tuesday, LPOSD trustees selected Architects West of Coeur d’Alene to develop designs for a build out at Kootenai Elementary School and the addition of four classrooms at Sagle Elementary.

“I’ve got goose bumps,” said LPOSD Superintendent Dick Cvitanich after trustees voted to approve the contract.

The project is the result of a May plant facilities levy that passed by 48 votes.

“This is a milestone for the community,” said school board vice chairman Mindy Cameron.

It has been more than 20 years since voters have approved a measure to fund building projects in the school district.

The two-year, $14.1 million plant facilities levy includes $6.8 million for the two schools, with most of that amount concentrated at Kootenai.

Two other architectural firms, ALSC of Spokane, Wash. and CTA Architects of Kalispell, Mont., also submitted proposals for the project.

The firms went through a seven-part selection process reviewed by four district representatives, an industry professional and two patrons. Cvitanich also requested that a Puyallup, Wash., school district employee with experience in school building projects sit in on the selection committee. The LPOSD superintendent worked in that district prior to being hired by LPOSD trustees.

“It (the firm selected) matched up with my gut feeling,” said Clif Warren, a Sandpoint resident and retired civil engineer who has experience working on school building projects in Indiana.

All three firms were very qualified for the projects, said Cvitanich.

The committee’s selection criteria included the firm’s educational facility construction experience, responses to requests for specific information, overall firm experience, local references, errors and omissions, project team members (engineers, consultants, etc.) and finalist interviews.

Each member of the screening committee scored each firm based on those seven components.

At Warren’s recommendation, Cvitanich also spoke with those people involved in the actual building process who worked for the firms on school building projects.

If Architects West and LPOSD cannot come to an agreement over a contract, then the process will begin with the next firm on the list — ALSC, said LPOSD business manager Lisa Hals.

This summer, the district awarded numerous bids for projects funded by the levy, including a new fire alarm system at Sandpoint Middle School, a digitally controlled ventilation system at Hope Elementary, a modular classroom at Washington Elementary, school buses, rewiring of computer networks at SMS and Lake Pend Oreille High School and the purchase of network switches.

It also has completed work on asbestos removal at several schools, including SMS and Washington Elementary.

Approval of the levy has allowed the district to address other items on its needs’ list, according to facilities director Sid Rayfield.

The next LPOSD trustee meeting is set for 6 p.m. Aug. 26 at Farmin Stidwell Elementary.