The Jamesville-DeWitt school district has approved the bids for the general construction and electrical phases of the $3.1 million capital project that will add a turf field and replace stadium lights to the main athletic facility at the high school.

At the March 16 meeting of the J-D Board of Education, members voted unanimously to approve Adhan Piping Co. as the general contractors and Concord Electric Co. for the electrical aspect of the project.

“There were several bidders for each one, we must accept the low bid if they are meeting standards as being a company in good legal and financial standing,” said Superintendent Alice Kendrick.

After the cost of hiring the contractors was figured in, Kendrick said the project is about $82,000 under the budget voters approved in October, which was $3.1 million.

“The higher quality track surface has also been accepted,” Kendrick said. “So we got everything we wanted in the base bid for this project.”

The capital project contained proposed renovations to the high school athletic stadium, including the a 225-foot-wide multi-use turf field surrounded by a six-lane, 400-meter German-curve style track and replacement of the current stadium lights.

The project also included carpet replacement in the high school’s band and chorus rooms, a component, according to Kendrick, that was not only necessary but would also allow the project to qualify for state building aid.

Construction can begin this summer and will hopefully be completed by November 2015, Kendrick said.

Also at the meeting, the board:

—Adopted a resolution establishing a school budget hearing for May 11, with the budget vote being May 19.

—Approved a proposition that will be put to voters at the May 19 budget vote to allow the district to purchase four, 65-passenger buses. According to Kendrick, every other year the school district purchases new buses for the transportation department, and the purchases are separate from operational budget.

—Heard praises from board President Mark Schulman about the recent school musicals and plays he had attended in the elementary, middle and high schools over the past few weeks. “The future of our music program looks very good,” Schulman said.

Hayleigh Gowans is a reporter for the Eagle Bulletin. She can be reached at [email protected].