WARREN SCHOOLS Defining the rules on state bidding

The first meeting is tentatively set for Nov. 18.
By DENISE DICK
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- The city school district plans meetings to educate local contractors about the requirements for state bidding.
Jim Russo, executive director of business operations, said the construction manager for the district's $170 million school construction project plans two contractor outreach sessions to inform local contractors about state bidding requirements.
The first is tentatively set for Nov. 18 in city council chambers. A second is expected in December.
"We want to make sure everyone is on the same level playing ground," Russo said.
Linda Metzendorf, school board president, said there's a need to inform local contractors about how things are done with state contracts.
The Ohio School Facilities Commission is paying 80 percent of the project cost, with a voter-approved bond issue covering the remainder.
Building plans
The plan is to build five new kindergarten-through-eighth-grade buildings and a new high school. Existing schools will likely be demolished.
"There are a lot of nuances with state bidding," Russo said.
One element he pointed to is bonding. Contractors will be required to post a bond and some may not be able to pay.
"They may want to work as a sub for the primary contractor," he said.
Special consideration won't be given to local contractors or for women or minorities. Prevailing wage also isn't a consideration in the contracts.
"We're not talking about setting quotas," Russo said.
The Youngstown City School District set goals for its $200 million construction project to have 20 percent of the work go to minorities, 20 percent to females and 50 percent to district residents.
Russo said the demolition work at McKinley, Roosevelt and Dickey elementary schools is expected to go out for bid after the first of the year. Dickey has been closed for a few years. Roosevelt and McKinley closed at the end of the 2002-03 and the 2003-04 school years, respectively.
Schools that remain in use won't be demolished until the new school to replace it is complete.
The new schools at the sites of Lincoln and McGuffey elementary schools will be constructed first.
The full project involves building the five new K-8 buildings and a new high school to replace Warren G. Harding High School, East, Turner and Warren Western Reserve middle schools and nine elementary buildings.
denise_dick@vindy.com