EudoraNews.com

The number and amount of bids Eudora USD 491 received for the first work to be done on its $45 million bond issue has district officials pleased.

The district received 20 bids for site earthwork of the property near 10th and Peach streets where the new elementary school will be located. At last Thursday's school board meeting, the board awarded the contract to De Soto-based construction company R.L. Duncan, which submitted the low bid of $1,279,000.

The bid came in $452,000 less than the appraised value of $1,731,104. The high bid was $2,325,000.

Superintendent Marty Kobza said the bid was a positive way to begin work on the facility, which will house grades one through five and cost an estimated $27 million.

"We're pleased with it," he said. "It's a good way to start the project, as far as the bond issue is concerned. Anytime you start out with the first bid being friendly, it allows us to maximize the rest of the project."

Clearing of the site will begin Thursday, with a formal groundbreaking ceremony planned for 6 p.m. March 27.

Changes to the infrastructure, such as water and electrical lines, cannot be done until permits are procured from the city of Eudora.

"Once we get started, we just need to keep the project moving forward and make sure we hit the timelines and benchmarks as far as permitting is concerned," Kobza said.

In other actions, the board:

¢ Approved a site analysis to be done by RSP Associated at a cost of $5,000. RSP will analyze Nottingham Elementary School, Laws Field, the Adult Learning Center, The baseball fields at West Elementary School, the area of the Eudora High School and Middle School campuses, property of new elementary center to provide information about which properties would be best for a new district operations center.

Kobza said their inclusion would help remove emotion from the decision.

"They'll take an objective look at things and see what's feasible with a lot of different factors from location of utilities to the value of the land that might be better utilized for something else, and any number of other factors," he said.

¢ Approved a policy that will allow high school students to participate in two sports during one season. For instance, a student would be able to participate in both baseball and track during the spring sports season.