Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
The Bessemer Area School board held its first in-person meeting since the start of the coronavirus pandemic to approve Nasi Construction's bid for window installation at Washington School. Seen in the photo, clockwise, from left are Trustee Eric Stanislawski, Secretary Beth Steiger, President Jim Partanen, Treasurer Tara Graham, District Business Manager Chris Bergquist, Superintendent and ADJ Principal Dan Niemi, and Vice President Dick Matrella.
By CHARITY SMITH
Bessemer - The Bessemer Area Schools Board of Education held a special meeting on Wednesday to approve a bid for the installation of new windows at Washington Elementary School.
The lowest bid was $610,035 from Nasi Construction.
Board secretary Beth Steiger said this will leave the district with less than $168,000 for other projects.
"What that means ... is that if we approve these windows, which I think we all agreed at our last working session was the priority, we need to do it," said Steiger. She said the idea of replacing the block windows at the high school will need to be tabled because there's not enough money to do both projects.
According to Superintendent Dan Niemi, the windows have not been replaced since the 1970s and new windows will help them with energy efficiency.
"It'll save us some funds," Niemi said.
Washington Elementary had more need than A. D. Johnston, he said, so they will be looking at just doing the sash and mechanical work at the high school instead of a full replacement.
The bid for the windows was approved unanimously. Because the windows will be specially ordered, the installation won't start until the fall, while school is in session.
Chris Bergquist, district business manager, said they will utilize two vacant classrooms during the installation, moving classes from room to room so installation can continue in vacant rooms.
Niemi said that each classroom should take about two to three days. However, according to Bergquist, the project completion date is dependent on the timing of the delivery and the weather. She said they might have to finish the project in the spring of 2021.
This was the first time the board has met in person since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.
