By: Kate Baldwin, Executive Director of Admin Services

August 14, 2020

Oviatt Renovation Project: August 13th marked the date when this project reached completion. Over the past several weeks, there were minor details and finishing touches that needed to be addressed. Some of the delays were related to pandemic in that contractors were not able to get certain building materials or supplies, especially electrical items. The project was scheduled to be completed June 1st. It was disappointing that inspections were not completed until August but staff was able to have limited access to the building over the summer. The Board approved the purchase of new classroom furniture that equips this school to match the new elementary Orchard Hills. Most of the Oviatt furniture was over 25+ years old, showing a lot of wear and did not accommodate many of the modern features that are in 2020 classrooms. Technology and small group has changed the methods of instruction. Classroom furniture that is mobile is more functional to these methods of instructional delivery. In 2016 the District budgeted $6.5 M for this project. In 2018 when the project design was completed for bid, the District decided to include additional HVAC improvements, replace carpeting and repaint through the building. These improvements increased the total project to $8.1 M. The additional HVAC brings new energy efficiencies and the classroom improvements of new carpet and paint will make the Oviatt School feel like a new building for our Preschool, Kindergarten and 1st Grade students.

MS Baseball-Softball Paving Project: Following completion of the three large projects, construction of the new elementary school (Orchard Hills), HS and MS Renovations, and Oviatt Renovations, the District was able to realize a total project surplus large enough to fund the paving of the baseball and softball gravel drive and parking lot south the Middle School. The District decided that it was a good time to get this project completed with the available funding. The project cost estimate is $880,344. This project is set to bid the end of August with a scheduled completion date of November 1st. This site improvement has been identified on the District 20-Year Master Facility Plan for nearly 20 years. It was time to see this project completed.

All of these school improvements are possible with voter approval of a $32 M bond issue in February 2017 and Iowa Sales Tax funding for schools. The School Board and staff are very appreciative of the community support that our parents and citizens provide to Norwalk Schools.