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December 2018 - Posts
As the new Superintendent, I’m thrilled the community united in support of our children and the district’s long-term facilities needs through the bond passed in 2016. The Board of Education and Administration take this vote of confidence seriously and are working hard to maximize every public dollar.

To make these large construction projects a reality requires the dedication and expertise of a number of professional architects, construction managers, and building planners working in collaboration and cooperation with district and building administrators. We are fully focused on that effort.

As a reminder, in May, 2016, Comstock voters approved a $40,130,000 bond. To maximize the number of dollars available for construction, these dollars will be spent in three series over the course of nine years. The money must be spent for improvements and preservation of the district’s buildings and facilities. By issuing the bonds in three series, the overall interest costs are less than if the bonds were issued all at once.

To help ensure the best construction results possible, the Board of Education completed an exhaustive bid and interview process which resulted in the employment of two keys firms - GMB Architects and Miller Davis Construction.

GMB is a Michigan firm based in Grand Rapids with a local office in Holland. The company has over 50 years of experience and specializes in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, interior design, landscape architecture, civil engineering, structural engineering, and a full range of K-12 pre-bond marketing services.

GMB has over 100 employees in nine architectural disciplines. The role of these professionals is twofold - to provide the district with a master plan for the projects as well as to design specific locations for rooms, offices, entrances, and utilities. The architects continually meet with the administration to find out what the schools need and then engage in proposing specific designs that balance those needs with the monies available in the bond.

Miller Davis is a Kalamazoo firm with its office located conveniently downtown. The company was founded in 1909, and provides general contracting, construction management, and construction consulting services. These professionals work hand in hand with the architects and the school administration and oversee the actual construction projects. After the district finalizes the architectural designs and cost projections, Miller Davis hires the specialized construction companies that actually do the work - masons, electricians, plumbers, roofers, tilers, and a host of other companies.

Since our buildings are all older, federal regulations regarding lead and asbestos require abatement companies to remove the dangerous materials safely and properly. These costs are factored into the overall budget. Essentially, our counterparts at Miller Davis act as our advocates during construction and ensure that these varying companies work together collaboratively and complete their contractual obligations according to detailed specifications and required timelines.

I am pleased to announce that Phase I is now nearly complete. This phase included front office and secure entry renovations at all buildings, remodeled bathrooms across the district, and high school locker room rebuilds.

Both Phases II and III are currently in design discussions. While all buildings will experience improvements, the main focus of Phase II is on NEMS. It is fair to say that the school is being “gutted” and completely rebuilt from within. We are extremely excited by early designs and concepts.

As with Phase II, Phase III also touches all buildings but emphasis will be on redesigning the interior of the high school. It is important to note that through this bond, both NEMS and CHS will be completely air conditioned when the rebuilds are finished. For more details, see the district’s website. Also, we’ll be providing regular bond updates in each issue of the Communicator.

If you have any questions about our bond projects, feel free to contact me at your convenience. Call me at 269-250-8907 or by email at [email protected].
Posted by Jason Hall  On Dec 04, 2018 at 10:11 AM 167 Comments
  
 
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