BY KARISSA MILLER
The Iredell-Statesville Schools Board of Education met Monday night and accepted general contractor Simcon Company LLC’s $2.7 million bid — the lowest among five received by the district — for renovations to the old wing at Harmony Elementary School.
The renovations will allow students to access classrooms in an enclosed area and create a hallway. Currently, individual classrooms at the back of the building are accessed from the outside. The contractor will also update some of the bathroom facilities, which aren’t up to new regulations and only have one toilet.
Pinnacle Architecture, the firm hired by the district for the project in 2022, received bids for the Harmony Elementary renovations on behalf of I-SS on August 13.
According to I-SS Chief Operations Officer Mark Shinkaruk, the funding for the project will come from a combination of the district’s capital funds ($1 million) and N.C. Lottery funds ($2 million).
The use of Lottery funds requires approval from the Iredell County Board of Commissioners, Shinkaruk said.
OTHER BUSINESS
In other matters, the board approved the low-bidder Stone Restoration’s $117,425 bid for ceiling restoration work for the gymnasium at Statesville High School.
Shinkaruk said that the company will help restore the gym’s failing ceiling panel system.
“Installers will fasten corrugated pads between the existing steel beams,” he said. “It’s necessary to complete this work prior to upcoming gym floor replacement slated for spring and summer 2025.”
The funds to pay for the project will come out of the 2024-2025 capital budget.
In other business, the board approved:
• Policy #3620 Extracurricular Activities and Student Organizations revisions. In section 3, the board amended the section, allowing I Academy students, or virtual students, from being exempt from face-to-face instruction. The IAcademy students must be enrolled in three classes to participate in athletics or a school activity, such as, band. It also allows homeschool middle school students to participate as well.
• Purchasing a 2025 Thomas C-2 72 passenger activity bus from Carolina Thomas for $136,778.