Bon De Croft Elementary Addition Project Out For Bid

White County’s Bon De Croft Elementary School project is out for bid.

The near 20,000 square foot addition would connect the old building with the gymnasium, create a new school entrance and add classroom space. Director of Schools Kurt Dronebarger said the question now is if bids will fit the some $6 million project budget.

“We’re not sure if that’s going to cover it,” Dronebarger said. “We also put some ESSER money back in various forms back into our fund balance, so we have some savings if we needed to dip into that to try and make this come to fruition. Right now, it’s just a waiting game to see where the bids come in at.”

Dronebarger said local contractors have already expressed interest in the project. Dronebarger said he is hearing that the price per square foot will likely come in higher than anticipated.

A bid opening date has not been set yet, but county officials anticipate an opening sometime in October. The project is to be paid through federal COVID funds that the school system received last year.

As for the leg work for the project, Dronebarger said the portable classroom is nearly installed. After that, demolition on the “short building” will begin.