The Carroll Community School District (CCSD) Board of Education has awarded a bid for the transportation facility project and determined a financing plan to pay for its construction and more during Monday night’s work session. During a special meeting last week, board members invited the owner from Graphite Construction, who submitted the lowest bid offer, to ask questions and better understand the company before awarding a contract. After reviewing additional documentation, the board has decided to decline Graphite’s bid and has approved Merit Construction based out of Cedar Rapids at $4.9 million, $252,000 higher total project cost. Piper Sandler was present at the meeting, discussing financing options the board could pursue when paying for the new facility. Board members weighed the pros and cons of financing with a five-year payoff versus paying for the project with Physical Plant and Equipment Levy (PPEL) and Secure an Advanced Vision for Education (SAVE) funding. Board members approved saving money in interest and bonding fees by paying for the project, which was just shy of $5 million with funding the district already has. Other action items on the agenda included approving Knobbe Plumbing and HVAC for a hot water heater at the Carroll Middle School for $17,640 and approving representatives from each building to serve on the School Improvement Advisory Committee (SIAC). While no action was taken, board members also reviewed a retirement incentive plan that will be brought up again at the next board of education meeting, and a transportation department report that showed the district is struggling to maintain drivers and routes while transporting over 1,400 students a day. Carroll Broadcasting will bring you more on these topics in upcoming newscasts.
