(Stanton) — Preliminary planning is underway for future construction projects in the Stanton School District.

At a special meeting Thursday morning, the Stanton School Board approved a construction contract with KPE Architecture of Omaha for projects associated with a $5,325,000 bond issue approved by voters in last month’s city-school elections. Funding from the bond issue is earmarked for a number of projects, including a safe and secure entryway, new classrooms and heating and air conditioning work, among others. Stanton School Superintendent David Gute tells KMA News the board selected the company based on its track record.

“We felt very comfortable moving forward with them on the current project,” said Gute. “They helped us get to the bond with some preliminary designs, and things along that line. This is more of a procedural thing to get a contract actually established, and up and running moving forward.”

Gute says the board’s next step is to select a construction manager at risk for the projects.

“We have sent out notice,” he said. “This has to go out on the state website that companies know that we are looking for a construction manager at risk. That has to be posted for 14 days. That did go out earlier this week. Then, we will actually send out a request for qualifications. So, we’ll ask companies interested to go ahead and submit qualifications, and why they feel they’re a good fit for our project.”

After reviewing interested companies, the board will send out request for proposals, or RFPs for a bidletting. Gute hopes the board selects a construction management firm within the next six weeks.

“Hopefully by the end of January, we’re in negotiations with a construction manager firm, trying to figure out if they’re going to be our folks to help us move forward in the construction process,” said Gute. “Then after that, the construction manager will help us and the architects in the designing of the project, and hopefully breaking ground this summer.”

Gute says the projects’ timeline will depend on the construction manager selected.

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