The final round of Lawrence public school district bond construction is about to begin at, clockwise from top left, Pinckney Elementary, Broken Arrow Elementary, Prairie Park Elementary, Quail Run Elementary and Sunflower Elementary.

Bids for the final phase of the Lawrence school district’s bond construction projects have been approved, and the projects are set to begin this spring.

Members of the Lawrence school board got a glimpse recently of plans for the final five projects at Pinckney, Sunflower, Broken Arrow, Prairie Park and Quail Run elementary schools. District officials said the five projects — which are broken up into two bids and total more than $12.4 million — were on budget and were even able to include a few extra improvements.

“Bids on both of these were very favorable,” Kyle Hayden, assistant superintendent of business and operations, told the school board last week. “And so, we hit our budget targets; we were able to capture all of our intended outcomes and even some items that had previously appeared on the capital improvement plan.”

McCownGordon Construction was selected in 2013 to provide construction management services for the projects, and handled the bids from each subcontractor for each project’s various components. Both bids were in line with the original estimates for the projects, according to representatives with McCownGordon. The estimate for Pinckney was about $6.5 million and the estimate for the second bid that covered Broken Arrow, Prairie Park, Sunflower and Quail Run was about $5.9 million.

A rendering of the addition that will be made to the northwest side of Pinckney Elementary School, 810 W 6th St. The addition will be attached with a glass connection to the existing building.

Under the $92.5 million bond issue approved by Lawrence voters in 2013, all 20 Lawrence schools received renovations and the district also built the new Lawrence College and Career Center, 2910 Haskell Ave. About three-quarters of the $92.5 million went toward the district’s 14 elementary schools, with most of that focused on six older schools in central and east Lawrence.

The five remaining projects make up the last phase of construction under the 2013 bond issue and will begin by June 1. Hayden said later that after all the planning, design and building that have gone into the 21 projects, getting to the last phase is rewarding.

“As you get down to the end of it, and you think about all the work that’s been done, it’s very rewarding,” he said. “And to see final projects in particular I think is something that’s pretty special, because I would say many if not all the projects have turned out better in person, when you see it, than what you anticipated on paper.”

Construction in the district, though, is far from over. Planning began this month for the district’s next set of projects. In January, the Lawrence school district hired architects to create a facility master plan for the district’s six secondary schools. Options for the secondary schools will be brought to the Lawrence school board in the fall, Hayden said.

Projects to begin by June:

Pinckney: A two-story addition will be built on the northwest side of the school and attached with a glass connection to the existing building. The entrance of the school will be reoriented back to the original entry facing Sixth Street, and a secure entry will be added. Heavy renovations will be made to the core of the building, including the commons area and library media center. The library will include more common spaces, a makerspace and low-level mobile shelving. Learning pockets will be added and the kitchen will be completely remodeled.

Pinckney cost: $6.5 million

Sunflower: An addition to the school will include five classrooms, two of which will be structurally enhanced to serve as “safe shelter areas.” Light renovations will include polished concrete flooring throughout the corridors and new furniture for learning pockets. Heavy renovations will include relocation of the current office area, new secure entry and full roof replacement. Changes will also be made to the traffic flow and parking to help with mobility.

Sunflower cost: $3.5 million

Broken Arrow: The majority of the heavy renovation will be in the core of the building. A secure entry will be added. Light renovations will include remodel of the main office area, polished concrete flooring throughout the corridors, remodel of restrooms and new furniture. Other heavy renovation will be replacing the stairs leading down to the cafeteria with a ramp, adding glass partitions to the gym and leveling out the tiered floor in the music room.

Broken Arrow cost: $1.2 million

Prairie Park: The majority of the heavy renovation will be in the school’s office area. A secure entry will be added, and Hayden said the office will be “completely gutted and the flow of it will be much different to accommodate the safe entry.” Light renovations will include restroom remodels, polished concrete flooring throughout the corridors and new furniture for learning pockets.

Prairie Park cost: $823,000

Quail Run (second phase): The majority of work was done last year, including a building addition and new roof. Light renovations will include new carpet, paint and some furniture in all classrooms and the library.

Quail Run (second phase) cost: $318,000