Bids totaling nearly $500,000 for the renovation of Lindbergh High School’s Gymnasium 2 were awarded last week by the Lindbergh Board of Education.

During a special meeting Friday morning, the Board of Education voted 4-0 to approve a $302,450 contract to the Diestelkamp Construction Co. for renovations to the high school’s Gymnasium 2.

Voting to award the contract were board President Mark Rudoff, board Vice President Ken Fey, board member Janine Fabick and board member David Peek. Absent were board Secretary Vic Lenz, Treasurer Katie Wesselschmidt and board member Bob Foerstel.

During a discussion of the renovation project, Executive Director of Planning and Development Karl Guyer told the board, “Simply stated, this is the renovation portion to Gym 2. It will handle replacement of the bleachers (and) wood floor. As part of this, we’re adjusting the stairwells, establishing some team bleachers and covering over the structural glazed tile that’s been painted and needs to go in a different direction …”

In a memo to Superintendent Jim Sandfort and Assistant Superintendent for Finance Pat Lanane, Guyer wrote that the bleachers and wood floor in Gym 2 “are at the end of their respective life cycles. Replacement parts are no longer available for the bleachers. While the bleachers do not have to meet present codes, they fall very short of current expectations. For the safety of students and patrons that use the bleachers, they must be replaced.

“The wood floor has already been sanded and refinished for the last time. Too many of the boards have cracks or shrunk, leaving gaps that cannot be closed. The floor is over 25 years old. While the bleachers are in worse condition than the wood floor, it would be impractical to install new bleachers over an old floor and in several years remove and reinstall the bleachers again to replace the floor. Thus both have been scheduled to be replaced at the same time,” Guyer stated in his memo.

Regarding the stairwells and team bleachers, Guyer wrote, “As part of code review, it was determined that the open stairwells that originally connected the lower-level locker rooms directly to the gymnasium could be eliminated. With this possibility, the unattractive protective screens and the hazard of the open access can be eliminated.

“The renovations include stair removal and installing a reinforced concrete slab tied into the existing structure to cover the opening. In either corner of the gym on the north side, a bleacher bank will be installed for visitor and home teams,” the memo stated.

Nine bidders obtained the bid package and three submitted proposals. Guyer told board members that Diestelkamp’s bid was the lowest and best submitted. The company’s bid also included a higher-performance floor at no additional cost to the district, he added.

Board members also voted 4-0 to award a $183,287 contract to the Thornburgh Cos. for the removal of lead paint from Gym 2. The contract includes an overtime differential for a total contract price not to exceed $192,916.

In a memo to Sandfort, Guyer wrote, “As part of the Gym-2 renovations, it was determined that the steel roof structure was originally painted with lead paint. Over the service life of the gym, the steel had been maintained and painted with non-lead paint. Over the last several years the paint has started to completely peel, including the original lead-paint layer. In order to repaint the steel, the lead paint needs to be removed.”

Guyer and board members discussed the need for the abatement project to be completed by midnight Monday, Aug. 20, as the new school year begins the next day.

Nine bidders obtained the bid package and five submitted proposals. Guyer told board members that Thornburgh’s bid was the lowest and best submitted.

“Because the notice to proceed occurred later than originally anticipated and it is expected that additional hours will be required to complete the project, the district would only be responsible for the difference between standard hour rates and the premium differential hourly rate,” Guyer wrote. “Thornburgh Cos. has established a maximum guaranteed project cost at $192,916 regardless of the amount of extra hours required to meet the schedule …”

In approving the district’s budget for the 2007-2008 school year, the Board of Education approved spending $881,590 of district reserves for capital improvements at Gym 2 and the district auditorium.

A total of $585,600 was budgeted for the Gym 2 renovations and lead-paint abatement and the contracts approved by the board will not exceed $495,366.

In an unrelated matter, the Board of Education recently voted to award bids totaling roughly $1.34 million for the first phase of a partial building replacement at Sappington Elementary School.

The first phase of work at Sappington Elementary School includes utilities installation, site work, foundation installation and steel installation. The following bids were awarded July 17 by the board:

• Utilities installation — $218,225 to Budrovich Excavating.

• Site work — $335,252 to Budrovich Excavating.

• Foundation installation — $333,750 to Roy Gittemeier Contractors Inc.

• Steel installation — $456,834 to Kupferer Bros. Iron Works Inc.

The partial building replacement at Sappington Elementary is an estimated $8.55 million project and is being funded with revenue from Proposition R, which was approved by district voters last November.

Proposition R is described by Lindbergh administrators as a no-tax-rate-increase $32 million bond issue. The district’s debt-service tax rate will remain unchanged at 38 cents per $100 of assessed valuation, but it will be extended for a six-year period.

Besides the partial building replacement at Sappington and a minor building addition at Kennerly Elementary School, Prop R will fund a variety of other projects in schools throughout the district. These include new roofs, the replacement of rooftop HVAC units, classroom doors that lock from the inside for elementary schools, fire alarms and security cameras in most buildings.