A big step was taken recently by the Adel-DeSoto-Minburn School District regarding their new elementary school project, as the School Board approved the bid for construction.

Superintendent Greg Dufoe says they received seven bids for the work, with the low bid of $16.9 million coming from Core Structural Construction. The bid includes the optional storm shelter built into the building, which the Board felt was an important addition for the safety of students. Dufoe points out that the bid was higher than what they had anticipated based on the engineer’s estimate, which directly influenced the amount proposed and approved through the general obligation bond issue passed last year.

However, he says the higher pricetag won’t change their plans, as the District had already set aside additional funds for the project. “Our financing strategy remains the same. We will use sales tax revenue to make up the difference between the GO bonds that we passed in June, at around $15.75 million. And so the additional difference will be made up in sales tax revenue, and we have several million on hand already to make up that difference. And we’ll continue to accrue more savings for that as we go through the construction process.”

Dufoe says they will break ground on the project as soon as the weather allows, and the District hopes to open the new school by August of 2021. To learn more about this and other ADM topics, click the link below to listen to the recent Perry Fareway Let’s Talk Dallas County program with Dufoe.

https://www.raccoonvalleyradio.com/2020/02/12/lets-talk-dallas-county-2-12-2020-greg-dufoe/