Van Buren Approves Bid For CTE Building Upgrades

The Van Buren County Board of Education approved a low bid of $498,500 to upgrade the CTE Building Wednesday.

The board initially had concerns with the price tag of the project, but Board Member Davy Shockley said the board should go ahead and approve the low bid because the cost of the project would go up if they put the project off. Director of Schools Jared Copeland said the school system could pay over half of the project using Innovative School Models funds.

“There’s about $260,000 out of ISM that can be left to go to a project like this,” Copeland said. “So really the question is twofold to approve the bid project but also with the understanding that only $260,000 would be out of ISM and the remainder of it would need to be picked up out of General Projects.”

The project will include upgrading two air conditioning systems, lights, and flooring. Copeland said it would take a couple of months for the project to begin due to Tennessee’s new HVAC regulations affecting inventory changes.

“You know how these things go I don’t really see this project getting off the ground for the next few months,” Copeland said. “We will approve it now and then we’ll start signing contracts and that thing so if inventory is available by January or February I don’t really see it being a direct issue.”

Copeland said the flooring is the most expensive part of the project. Copeland said CTE classes will have to work around the project while the flooring is being replaced.

“We kind of got a plan in place,” Copeland said. “We are just going to have to flex it out, people move back and forth for just a little bit during the project, but once it’s all done they will move back forever cause they will never have to move again after they get the floors done.”

The project received three bids with the winning and lowest bid coming from WNO Construction Company. Chairman Tim Hodges said WNO has done multiple projects in surrounding counties including the Algood City Hall.

In other business, the School Board held elections for Chairman and Vice-Chairman. Tim Hodges re-elected as Chairman and Barry Austin was re-elected as Vice-Chairman.

The board also approved to keep several grants for the 2025 fiscal year. Those grants include the ESSER 3.0 Revision One Grant, the Stronger Connections Grant, and the HQIM Literacy Implementation Grant.