Board approves ATC renovation plan and to seek bids after state grant award

The Marion County Board of Education voted to approve construction documents and budget updates that clear the way for bidding a major renovation and addition to the district ATC, a project officials said is largely supported by a competitive state ATC grant.

Board members approved BG2 (outline specifications), BG3 (budget) and related documents after a presentation from a project representative who described renovations to the facility’s welding, carpentry, auto and machine‑tool labs and a roughly 5,000‑square‑foot addition to expand industrial maintenance and CAD labs. The presenter said the project will replace the building’s HVAC with a geothermal system, upgrade lighting and finishes, replace perimeter brick and perform site work including a new parking lot and mill-and-overlay on surrounding pavement.

The presenter listed four owner alternates that the board can select during bidding: owner‑preferred HVAC controls/hardware, a flooring upgrade, a wall‑hung canopy on the building’s rear entry and other scope options. The board was told estimates are on target and that approval of the construction documents would allow the district to go to bid immediately; staff said bid results will be presented at the board’s April meeting and that the work will be phased over the next year with a target for 100% completion in 2027.

"So that's pretty much the scope of the project," the project presenter said, summarizing building and site work and the proposed phasing. The presenter added that the district had been one of two in the state to be fully funded under the ATC program and that the full award was the maximum amount of $10,000,000 on the grant application.

Board members asked questions about timing, phasing and the alternates; staff said pricing for alternates will be provided when bids are returned so the board can choose the base bid only or add any alternates. The presenter said work would begin this summer for the major pieces, with phasing through fall and spring and wrap-up in 2027.

After the Q&A the board voted to approve the documents and proceed with bidding. The presenter said the district will go to bid next week if the board’s approval stands and expected to return with bid results in April.