A $108,000 change order on the guaranteed maximum price for renovations at the former Manhattan High East Campus building was unanimously approved by USD 383 school board members Wednesday.
The district plans to install angled parking along the east side of 10th Street between Pierre and Houston, a significantly less costly option than initial plans for a parking lot at the southeast corner of 9th and Houston Streets.
“We cannot expect employees to go to work and not have a parking space. As long as we have the budget, and I’ve been assured we do, I’m voting for this,” said board member Brandy Santos.
Superintendent Eric Reid says this option is about $300,000 less than the parking lot option.
The change order brings the overall cost for renovations at 901 Poyntz to over $9.2 million. The board also approved an approximate $55,000 bid for camera upgrades. Reid also says the committee tasked with renaming the building has reached consensus to name it the Lincoln Education Center.
“We want to make sure Manhattan-Ogden is in that name as well, in some capacity. It was originally Bluemont High School and changed to Lincoln High School. I really thought the discussion pointed to connecting the future with the past,” he said.
A formal resolution on the name change will be brought to the school board at a later date.
Once renovations are completed, the building will serve as the new home for USD 383 administrators and a community gathering space, which will include but not be limited to community meals for local nonprofit Common Table.
District administrators are expected to move into the building by next fall.
