Nine months after being approved by the Turlock Unified School Board of Trustees, the Osborn Two-Way Immersion Academy Modernization Project is finally set to break ground.
The scope of work for Phase 1 and Phase 2 includes a Kindergarten/Head Start preschool Complex and a new parking lot. The Board cleared the way for the renovations to begin, and they hope to see shovels in the ground in about two weeks.
“It’s been a long-haul to get to where we’re at. It’s seeming like Osborn has been something we’ve been working on since the very beginning; since the bonds projects started in 2016,” said Assistant Superintendent Barney Gordon.
The Board accepted a bid by JL Bray & Son, Inc. for a guaranteed maximum price of $14,120,914. This price tag includes an 8 percent contingency as well as an alternate option to paint the exterior of the campus when the project is done, which will cost $238,950.
The District will pay 27 payments $522,996.81 starting on Nov. 1 through Jan, 1 2024. A larger contingency than usual was included to account for past construction near the school.
“There is a lot of earth work by Osborn. Because of that location and based on the experience the City had when they were doing Main Street, we felt a larger contingency than normal was necessary,” said Gordon.
The project will include a new preschool and kindergarten facility in the back, upgrades to the administration building, getting rid of the portable restrooms with new permanent restrooms built, a new parking lot structure and a new shade structure for outdoor dining.
This modernization of Osborn will take place in three different phases, this contract will complete phase one and two. The details of phase three will be discussed in a different contract, however, the District wants it to include moving a lot of portables at the back of the school to another part of campus, according to Gordon.
An escalation of lumber prices pushed back the project for a short amount of time.
“When we’re talking about building a whole wing of a facility, that could have added considerably to the project,” said Gordon.
Board President Lori Carlson said she is excited that the project is starting quickly and is appreciative of the community’s support.
“It always says completion in 2023, so it made me excited when you said shovels in the ground in two weeks. It makes me so grateful to the community for the support of our schools,” she said.
Gordon also confirmed that the architect’s concept for the project will be made available to the public in the near future.
