The Apollo High School expansion project is moving into its last phases after the Daviess County Public Schools Board of Education on Tuesday selected A&K Construction to begin work on the final additions.
The Paducah-based company, which has worked on two DCPS elementary schools in the past, will do the job for roughly $11.5 million — well under the estimated construction cost of $19 million. Board members said there were four competitive bids opened on April 16, but the one from A&K was the “lowest and best.”
“I think the planning on this reflects that we thought the cost would be much more, but we’re pleased to bring to you a 40 percent savings over the budget that was established pre-bid,” DCPS Superintendent Matt Robbins said. “So we’re very pleased with the outcome of this. This does come at a very critical time for our community.”
Robbins said this would move the expansion project at Apollo to the final phases, which include 26 classrooms, two separate wings, a second floor and pathways to bridge the new addition to the rest of the school and the parking lot.
Robbins said some work that has already been completed as part of the expansion involves the old football stadium being replaced with a new parking lot for students. Robbins said about 50 percent of contractors who will be working on the project are local.
“Looking forward into the future, we will do renovations of the remaining pods at the school that may involve another phase,” Robbins said, noting it would complete an upgrade to the entire campus.
Also during Tuesday’s meeting, the board approved two separate independent contractors to do test and inspections on A&K’s work as part of building code compliance.
