Contract awarded to build French Immersion school

Three of the bids for the job of building Algoma District School Board's new French Immersion school were very close, says Asima Vezina, superintendent of education.

Cy-Rheault Construction Ltd. of Timmins was the winner.

But not by much.

The tenders were opened on January 11 but the board officials didn't announce its choice until last night because they wanted to thoroughly check all bids, Vezina said after a board meeting.

"There were three tenders that were within about $250,000 of each other, so we needed to go through them very carefully, make sure all the ducks were in a row and everything was fine," she said. "That process takes about two weeks and we actually just finished yesterday."

The schedule Cy-Rheault has set for itself will see students using the school in May 2011, Vezina said.

"[The contractors] are planning to mobilize in the third week of March," she said. "Depending, of course, on the weather."

Students from the existing Francis H. Clergue school will move into the substantially complete building in May, at which time contractors will begin to demolish the old school.

In the last few weeks of school and through the summer, the demolition and new school yard will be completed including parking, bus area, playground and outdoor sports facilities.

Students from Rosedale French Immersion School will join the new Francis H. Clergue school in September, making it a JK-to-8 school.

Cy-Rheault's tender winning bid was $13,250,000.

The next lowest bid came from Monteith Building Group at $13,362,870, followed by George Stone and Sons Ltd of the Sault at $13,500,000.

Tom Jones Corporation, a general contractor from Thunder Bay, bid $13,900,034.

Bondfield Construction bid $13,988,000 and Tap Enterprises of Sudbury bid $15,275,000.

The winning bid was $2,223,400 less than the $15,473,400 allotted for the project by the Ontario Ministry of Education.

"That incorporates all the soft costs associated with the project," Vezina said. "Part of that goes for the furnishings and the equipment that will be required in the new school, some of it will go to pay the architects' fees. There are other consultants we need to bring on to the project for those costs as well as licensing fees, taxes and other costs. There won't be any extra dollars, that's for sure."

When funding for the project was announced, the board said it hoped to have all the French immersion students from its two elementary schools moved into the new school by Christmas 2010 or spring 2011.

The later occupation date is not seen as a set-back, said Vezina.

"We're just really happy that we've got the quality of building we wanted right from the beginning," she said. "There's no rush to get these kids out of their schools so I think we were better to take our time, do it properly and ensure that we have the best facility possible."

Vezina said the board is pleased it didn't have to give up any of the programming it wanted to offer in the new school.

"This school has to last 50 or 60 years so we want to do a good job and get it right," she said. "If it means a four- or five-month delay, so be it. We're satisfied."

Students at Francis H. Clergue and Rosedale Public French Immersion Schools were also satisfied with a choice for a new mascot.

Vezina reported to the board that, after considerable discussion with students, it was agreed that a voyageur would be the new school mascot.

A close second for the younger students was a crocodile, she said.

The following are news release on the board's tender award to Cy-Rheault Construction Ltd. and the appointment of a new vice principal in Thessalon.

************************* Contractor approved for ADSB's Francis H. Clergue French Immersion School

The Algoma District School Board (ADSB) is pleased to announce that Cy-Rheault Construction Ltd is the successful general contractor for the construction of the new Francis H. Clergue French Immersion Public School to be built on Weldon Street, former site of F.H. Clergue School.

The new school is expected to open in the fall of 2011.

Director of Education Mario Turco is very pleased.

“We appreciate the work of the ministry Staff, MPP David Orazietti in working with the ministry and the provincial expert panel for assisting in the design of this brand new state-of-the-art elementary school," Turco said. "We are very pleased to have a general contractor from Northern Ontario and many local subcontractors building this marvellous new JK-Grade 8 French Immersion school in our community.”

Wanda McQueen, chair of the board, is excited that this impressive facility will now be a reality for this community.

“The board is very appreciative of all the hard work from everyone including our parents, students, staff, community members and architects who have played a very important role in making this new school a reality," McQueen said. "We look forward to the shovel hitting the ground in early March and completion of the school before September 2011.”

On January 11, six bids were received from general contractors for the construction of the new school.

On review of the tender bids, Cy-Rheault Construction Ltd. from Timmins was the lowest bidder at $13,250,000 for the cost of construction of the new school.

The total funding provided by the ministry is $15,473,400, which covers the construction costs as well as the additional costs associated with taxes, furnishings and equipment, architectural and consultant fees, disbursements and licensing costs.

The design and bid process has been closely monitored by ministry staff as well as an expert panel made up of representatives from school boards who are very experienced in the construction of new schools.

On January 25, the ministry of education approved the request by ADSB to accept the Cy-Rheault bid as presented to them.

************************* Appointment of elementary vice principal

The Algoma District School Board appointed Sandi Dal Cin to the position of vice-principal.

Mrs. Dal Cin will be assigned as vice-principal at Thessalon Public School effective January 29.

With almost 20 years of experience with the ADSB, Dal Cin has held positions as a classroom teacher, a special education resource teacher and most currently as a literacy success leader.

Her enthusiasm and commitment to student learning will be well utilized in her new role.

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