School board to review architectural bids

The Lawrence school board will consider on Monday awarding contracts for architectural services on most of the construction and renovation projects that are being funded with the recently approved $92.5 million bond issue.

Most of the money from those bonds – about $78.4 million – will be used to expand and renovate the district’s 14 elementary schools, as well as some improvements at the two high schools. Some electrical improvements at the four middle schools are also included in that amount.

In April, shortly after voters approved the bond issue, the board agreed to divide the school building projects into four “packages,” each containing a few of the buildings slated for improvements.

Last week, the district’s Bond Construction Committee completed interviews with nine architectural firms that responded to a request for proposals. When the school board meets Monday, the committee will make recommendations about which firms should receive contracts for those packages.

The next step will be to negotiate contracts with those firms. Once those negotiations are completed, the board will be asked to approve the final contracts.

A fifth package, which calls for developing new facility space for career and technical education programs at the district’s Holcom Center, will be awarded later.

The board will meet at 7 p.m. Monday at the district’s administrative building, 110 McDonald Drive.

Also Monday, the board will hear a presentation about developing an International Baccalaureate program in the district.

That’s a program similar to advanced placement courses that offers advance courses with a liberal arts focus to high school students.

The International Baccalaureate program is managed by a non-profit corporation. The process to become authorized for the program typically takes two to three years and costs $23,000 just to apply, according to district officials.