The Newton School Board will meet in Special Session at 5:30 tonight in the District Administration building to formally approve the bid to renovate and add four classrooms to Thomas Jefferson Elementary school. This past Thursday, nine bids were open for the project. The recommended low bidder is Bi-State Contracting of Burlington. Their base bid was $5,378,349. In addition to that, Bi-State Contracting’s price for an alternative lighting update was the lowest submitted at $114,39 . FRK Architects and Engineers of West Des Moines estimated the construction costs at $6.5 million. Newton School District Director of Business Services Tim Bloom believes Bi-State Contracting has experience working with school districts. 

“We look forward to working with this company. I believe they do a lot of work for a lot of schools.”

Nine contractors submitted quotes, with the highest bid just over $6 million. The renovation involves 7,500-square feet. The four classrooms that will be added total 5,200-square feet. The school will stay open while the work is done.  Emerson Hough Elementary school will also be expanded and renovated. Bids on that project will be coming in soon. Each school is being equipped to handle up to 500 students. Due to declining enrollment, the Newton School District is transitioning from four elementary buildings to two. Three are open this school year.