Gary Moskowitz
A sign that reads "Office Here" at Roosevelt Middle School lets
visitors know where to find administrative personnel, in case they
are confused by the cluster of portable buildings and fencing that
line the north side of campus.
The school's front offices were moved into portable buildings
along Acacia Avenue so the old offices could be converted to science
classrooms. The new science classrooms are part of a $13-million
Measure K renovation project that began at the school more than three
years ago and is expected to be completed next year.
District officials hope contract problems that came up this week
don't delay work on restrooms and plumbing that was supposed to be
completed before school starts Sept. 3.
School will open this fall regardless of whether the work is
completed, Principal Anne Gibson said.
"At the moment, we are in the lull between storms," Gibson
joked.
"We are definitely looking forward to having a new home. Right
now, people sometimes are not sure that this is the school's office
and it doesn't have that welcoming feel. We call it 'Bungalow Row.'
None of this is affecting [instruction] dramatically at all, but we
do look forward to having something new."
District officials this week rejected bids for a second phase of
renovation at the school because of problems with construction bids.
School board members Tuesday will vote on an emergency resolution
that would allow new contractors to continue the work this summer.
The first renovation phase at Roosevelt included the installation
of new computers and a data-network system. The second phase includes
installing new restrooms and plumbing, and converting old science
rooms into office space.
Recent contractor bids for phase two work at the school were
rejected because one subcontractor was not licensed and another did
not have a sufficient materials and labor bond. A materials and labor
bond is a guarantee made by an insurance company that the contractor
will complete the project at the agreed-upon price within the
approved time frame, said Steve Hodgson, chief business and financial
officer for the district.
"It's a frustration, like a bump in the road, but it's not
unusual," Hodgson said. "It's a legal issue. We can't proceed unless
the paperwork is right and the bids are acceptable."
The rejection of recent bids could, in the worst-case scenario,
cause a delay of restroom and plumbing work at Roosevelt for as much
as a month, Hodgson said.
The school would have to bring in portable toilets if restroom
renovation was not completed by the start of the school year, Gibson
said.
"It's not the best situation, but it would not be a problem,"
Gibson said. "We have used them before for faculty. It's fairly
common."
State law mandates that the district choose the lowest contract
bid for any Measure K building project, assuming the bid meets
district criteria, school board member Chuck Sambar said.
