By Richard Tedesco
After failing to reach a consensus to move forward on the competing bids for emergency school repairs,
board member Stanley Kopilow successfully challenged the board to resolve the issue with head-to-head presentations.
An initial bid on emergency repairs from UGC, an architectural firm retained by the board, came up with a figure of $13 million for emergency repairs. Board member Uri Kaufman, who is a building contractor, proffered the board a bid from Wiedersum Architects in the $7 million range for the same work.
"I'll go with anybody who has a legitimate answer. Let's get it committed," said Kopilow of the head-to-head presentations. "If Uri can do it for $6 million or they can do it for $13 million, let's get it done."
Kopilow's proposal for a virtual side-by-side comparison of the bids was approved - along with a $5,000 fee for both firms - with six of the seven board members voting in favor. Board member Murrary Forman abstained.
Board member Michael Hatten credited Kopilow with proposing "a fairly balanced request to discuss the difference between the $13 million or the $7 million."
Funds for the emergency repairs would eventually come from the $27.5 million windfall expected from the sale of the Number One school property.
The $13 million UGC estimate presented by Lawrence schools superintendent in February included a $2.6 million repair of the masonry and curtain wall of the high school; $720,000 for roof replacement and chimney repairs; $460,000 to replace steam piping in the high school and middle school; $650,000 to replace air ducts; $558,000 for a new air conditioning system and $700,000 to replace tennis and basketball courts.
The estimate was part of a projected $33 million capital repair plan presented by Fitzsimons.
Board member Uri Kaufman subsequently challenged the emergency repair estimate in a public session last month, claiming Wiedersum could do the work for approximately $7 million.
Since the school board is currently operating under austerity, it can only dedicate capital repair funds for specific projects. So the board's commitment to the emergency repairs awaits settling on an acceptable bid to have the work done.
The board must eventually determine what it will do with the rest of the funds. Public school advocates Kopilow and Pam Greenbaum have pushed for the entire proceeds from the sale to be committed to a capital reserve fund.
The other board members have exhorted a cautious approach with some kind of reserve fund to be established for a portion of the remaining funds, and the surplus beyond that to be applied to reducing property taxes for district 15 homeowners.
No timetable was set by the board to hear the presentations from the respective architects.
