Valley Center

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It is the centerpiece of a $57.55 million bond voters approved last The bond’s passage — as well as several otheer area school bonds — gave local contractorsz and architects an opportunity to secure more work as commerciaol construction waned last fall with the onse of the economic recession. “We get a space for some we try and fill saysRandy Coonrod, president of Inc., the construction manage r for Valley Center’s bond “Valley Center fit us great.
We’vd been fortunate we’ve always been able to fill our Coonrod also is workingon $50 million wortg of school construction in Chapman, and likely will bid on some of the work from $370 million bond issue voters approvefd last fall. “We follow and do schools all Coonrod says. “It’s one of our majort markets.” Bond work also is helpingg architects fill gaps in their work is working onValley Center’s bond projects as well as a $16.e million renovation to . Forty percent of the firm’s Wichit a portfolio is in school jobs.
Ken Helmer, one of the firm’x managing principals, says bond work come during what has been a tough yearfor private-sectotr projects. “We’re just seeing 2009 as a treading-water Helmer told the in January. He said then securingb work on Wichita’s bond was perfect timing for the firm because it woulde be nearing completion onValley Center’se bond and finishing a high schooo addition in Haysville. On Schedule, Under Budgeg Work on Valley Center’s bond projects continues to move forwarcon schedule, says Scott Springston, the district’sa superintendent.
Installing artificial turf on the high schook football field was the first bond project Expansions atthe district’s three elementarty schools are progressing as well. Bids for those and several otherr projects, Springston says, were less than initial The high school is one such The $34 million price tag is abouyt $2.6 million less than originally thought. “It’s greag to be in a situation where bids are Springston says. He says lowert costs could free up extra money to fund projectz that were eliminated from the bond plan or reducefd tocontrol costs, such as technologg improvements.
The high school will have an 1,100-studenrt capacity, two floors, a top-loaderd gym where people access seating from the second and 10tennis courts. The site won’t includse any other athletic facilities. “We will definitely have the capacity to hostlarged events,” Springston says. Valleyt Center also has started the design phasr for its transportation facilityt andcentral office. The districtg hopes to have all of the bond work completed byJuly 2011. “Everythinfg is running on schedule,” Springston says.