Algoma School District approves proposal for referendum projects

ALGOMA – During the December Algoma School Board meeting, board members approved a proposal from Bayland Builders for the upcoming referendum construction projects.

Bayland Project Executive Jim Thyes said that the projects will remain in budget after receiving bids.

Referendum projects approved through the 2024 referendum include plumbing and roofing work at the elementary school; parking lot and track replacement at the middle school and high school; lighting, sound and ceiling tile replacement in the PAC; safety upgrades — rekeying doors, the front entrance of middle school and high school and visitor ID system; rubber playground surface at the elementary school; middle school and high school remodel; band/choir, AVA, technology and ag improvements; window replacement and restroom remodeling.

“Once approved by the board, we would then move forward with doing all the state, local plans needed to get approvals for them, start awarding contract subcontracts, getting any long lead time, materials order, getting phasing schedules and everything in place,” said Bayland Project Manager Chris Stevenson.

“The intent is to have everything ready to go as soon as school is out, so there’s no disruption. Before school is out, we’ll start mobilizing things and having things in place.

“We would go in and attack all projects to complete them during the summer months, with the intention of having substantial completion right as school is coming back in fall 2025.

“Bayland will also have a project manager which will take care of all the meetings, minutes, notes, photos, any documentation, and then there’ll be a full-time, on-site supervisor, which will be running both projects, bringing in quality control, safety.

“And as things go on, we’ll definitely have input from the board, or (Superintendent) Jesse (Brinkman), whoever they put as the main point of contact to attend our construction meetings in case something is being brought up that the user wants.”

Thyes said that the projects will be completed using a phased plan.

“There will be something going on in all of the spaces, just because there is so much to do; but, the intent is to hone in on one specific area because,” he said, adding that the wood shop and the little theater will be addressed first.
“Once those are completed, things will be shuffled around,” he said as work advances.

That evening the board unanimously approved the authorization for the superintendent to enter into an agreement with Bayland Buildings.
Construction begins this summer.