Everett School Board Votes to Build Controversial New $16.9 Million Dollar Building

At their meeting on Tuesday, the Everett School Board voted 4 – 0 (with one member absent) to move forward on construction of a new building at the corner of 41st and Broadway just to the southeast of Everett Memorial Stadium. While critics have called it an unnecessary expense, the school board says the building is needed and has produced a report explaining their rationale and offering answers to the most often asked questions.

Here is an excerpt from the Everett School District In Touch newsletter regarding Tuesday’s action…

School board names contractor for Community Resource Center

Bid for the project came in $2.6 million dollars under the estimated project cost

Contractors showed strong interest in building the school district’s Community Resource Center (CRC). Ten contractors submitted bids vying to construct the multi-level facility located at the corner of Broadway and the 41st Street ramp in Everett.

The district’s estimated construction cost for the project was $19,600,000. The bid awarded on Tuesday is $16,960,000 as presented by BNCC, Inc., of Steilacoom. BNCC is the contractor now rebuilding View Ridge Elementary School – one of the last projects financed through the 2006 voter-approved construction bond.

Facilities and Planning Director Hal Beumel, who oversees the View Ridge project for the district, says of BNCC, “They are, without a doubt, a top-notch company, interested in building a quality View Ridge Elementary that will serve us well over the next 40-year modernization cycle of that building.” Beumel added that the View Ridge project is ahead of schedule and with very few change orders. “We are confident that recommending this company and its bid to the board on Tuesday is a great way to start the CRC. In just over a year from now, our community will have a Community Resource Center with a life expectancy of more than 75 years.”

Beumel is especially pleased that the company’s bid is $2.6 million less than what the district estimated. “It is a double comfort to potentially have this high-caliber company work on behalf of the public on this project and to know they are giving the public the best value for the dollar.” Beumel explains that the basic construction bid cost does not include what the district must pay for Washington state sales tax, permits, fees, architectural plans and site work. “We do feel, however, that we will be within our estimated total cost for this building.”