The School District of Menomonee Falls Board of Education approved subcontract awards and authorized documents that will form a guaranteed-maximum-price (GMP) amendment for the Community Recreation and Riverside building project at a regular board meeting.

The approval follows a months‑long bidding and scoping process that produced more than 165 subcontract bids across 34 contract packages, district and contractor representatives said. Kurt Weeblows, the district’s owner’s representative, told the board: "I'm thrilled with where the district's at right now financially on this project, after the bids came back." Chris Coggins of BJS, the district's construction manager, said the bids averaged about 4.85 proposals per package and that several trades drew high participation, including plumbing and HVAC.

Board members were presented a one‑page budget snapshot showing two tracked budgets (Rec Center and Riverside), owner‑direct purchases such as the elevator upgrade and other costs outside the construction manager’s contract, and a contingency that the team said sits at about 5 percent (roughly $475,000). "If that $475,000 isn't spent as contingency, those dollars stay back with the district," Weeblows said.

Why it matters: district staff said the combined approach—adding space to the existing community recreation center and taking some space from Community Education and Recreation—allows the district to address Riverside’s space and safety concerns more affordably than building a standalone facility. District presenters said the majority of the project funding will come from Fund 80, not the district’s general operations Fund 10.

Key details presented to the board:
- Bids and scoping: The project team received over 165 subcontract bids across 34 packages; the team scoped many packages through follow‑up meetings to confirm scope alignment before recommending awards.
- Budget and contingency: The contingency increased from about $393,000 to $475,000 after final scoping and is presented as approximately 5 percent of the scoped work; the district said any unused contingency will remain with the district.
- Funding: Presenters identified about $8.5 million of the project funding as coming from Fund 80; the overall project figure discussed during the meeting was described in the $8–9 million range for the combined work.
- Additions retained after bids: the board heard that the plan now includes additional parking, updated corridor polished concrete to match existing floors, restroom updates and an upgraded elevator to the lower level.
- Schedule and phasing: the contractor intends to mobilize to the site on April 14, erect perimeter fencing and begin site work; an expedited phase will prioritize Riverside work so it is ready for the start of the next school year, while the Rec Center addition work continues through winter with final completion targeted at the end of January.

During discussion, board members and staff emphasized the scoping process that compared bidders "apples to apples," particularly where the construction manager self‑performed some trade work. Coggins said the team performed scope review meetings after bids arrived to resolve drawing ambiguities and avoid later change orders.

The board voted to approve the bid recommendations and related documents authorizing the GMP amendment. All board members present voted in favor.

Ending: District staff said they will continue communicating site logistics and a public messaging plan ahead of mobilization, and that Community Ed and Rec programs will be relocated during construction and summer sessions will be held at alternate sites such as Valley View and Ben Franklin as previously planned.