The Iowa Valley School Board has approved several contracts for continued summer construction across the district's elementary, junior high, and high schools. These updates are part of ongoing efforts to enhance the school facilities and are expected to stay within the district's budget.

Superintendent Curt Rheingans mentioned that bids for the projects are either on target or below the expected costs. One of the significant projects will be replacing the mulch on the elementary playground with turf. Rainbow of the Heartland’s bid of $315,496 was accepted, significantly lower than the originally budgeted $400,000.

“We are very pleased to see the bids come in under what we anticipated,” Rheingans stated. “At one time, we were budgeting $400,000, so this is great news for the district.”

Additionally, Poindexter Flooring was awarded a contract for installing new flooring in the band room and senior lounge, totaling $22,382, which was right on budget. Rheingans also acknowledged the help of a local concrete company that donated labor to flatten the band room floor.

For the athletic facilities, ABcreative’s bid of $67,012 was approved to provide shade and shelter at the baseball and softball fields, as well as the new elementary playground. Rheingans explained that this bid included both installation and poles, while the alternative bid from Boland Recreation would have required an additional $40,000 for installation.

With the work expected to be completed in around 10 weeks, the new shelters will be in place ahead of the upcoming baseball and softball seasons. Beebe's Hardwood Floors will also refinish the gymnasium floor for $32,415, a service the district completes annually to maintain the gym's condition. Rheingans mentioned that this might be the last time the gym floor could be sanded before it requires replacement, which would cost around $130,000.

Other planned renovations include the installation of new classroom furniture, whiteboards, and cabinets, with Premier Furniture handling the $395,600 job. Two rooms in the elementary school will also receive new carpeting at a cost of $4,085.

The district’s renovation project, partially funded by the $10.6 million bond approved by voters in 2022, is set to finish ahead of schedule. Originally planned as a three-year project, the district now expects it to be completed a year earlier. Rheingans expressed pride in the bond’s overwhelming support, with 73% of voters approving the measure.

As part of the board’s meeting, they also approved the school calendar for the 2025-2026 academic year. One notable change is the shift to an eight-day Christmas break, with a two-day fall break in October.

“It was really close,” said Rheingans, discussing the survey results where staff overwhelmingly preferred the two-day fall break over the longer Christmas vacation. The district’s new calendar aims to balance staff preferences while ensuring quality breaks for students.

In the long-term, this summer’s construction plans, along with the completion of ongoing renovation work, reflect the district’s commitment to improving facilities and enhancing the educational experience for students.

Originally reported by Winona Whitaker in Southeast Iowa Union.