Ogden board approves schematic designs, awards $1.379M parking-lot contract and authorizes $4.675M loan notes to fund renovation

The Ogden Community School District board voted to approve schematic designs for a planned school renovation and to award the construction contract for the middle/high school parking‑lot project to Homeboy Enterprises for $1,379,512 (base plus alternate 1). The board also approved financing steps, including appointing a paying agent and authorizing $4,675,000 in general‑obligation school capital loan notes to help fund the wider project.

Board members heard a presentation from the district’s design firm showing plans to recapture basement space, add natural light to the media center, create flexible collaboration and specialized instructional spaces, relocate storage and IT functions, and add new kindergarten classrooms. The project was described as phased: basement demolition and work during the school year followed by main‑level renovations during summer to minimize classroom disruption. The schematic phase includes a 25% contingency at this early design stage; staff said that contingency is expected to shrink as design documents are finalized.

Staff reported that nine contractors obtained the bid package and that sealed bids for the parking lot ranged roughly from $1.45 million to $1.95 million for base plus alternates. Homeboy Enterprises submitted the apparent low bid for the board’s chosen scope. After discussion about alternatives, the board elected to accept the base bid plus alternate 1 and not proceed with the more expensive alternate 2, which would have extended concrete farther across an adjacent stretch of the drive. The board recorded the award motion and approved it by roll call.

To fund the project and associated work, the board approved a package of financing motions: appointing UMB Bank as paying agent/registrar/transfer agent, placing a tax‑exempt certificate and continuing‑disclosure certificate on file, and authorizing the issuance and sale of $4,675,000 in general‑obligation capital loan notes (series 2026). Staff said proceeds were scheduled to be secured in March and would be used as outlined in the district’s bond documents; the board approved the motions by roll call.

Board members questioned whether to replace an asphalt overlay with full concrete on a longer stretch of the drive. An on‑call engineer (identified in the meeting as James) estimated the existing section might have another 10 years of service and noted future overlay options; the board preferred to preserve funds for other projects and accepted the lower scope. Staff also explained that any remaining proceeds from the financing were written in the pebble note to support a small follow‑on project (for example, a model classroom) on the campus.

Votes and formal actions recorded in the meeting packet matched the motions on the floor. The district’s timeline for procurement called for construction documents in June, a pre‑bid meeting in mid‑June and bid opening July 9, with the board aiming to have a contractor under contract by the July board meeting.

The board’s approval sends the schematic design forward to the next design‑development stage and secures a contractor to perform the approved parking‑lot work under the selected scope. Staff said they’ll report schedule and cost refinements to the board as design development and bidding proceed.