‘Significant majority’ of summer projects behind schedule, PSSD says

Prairie South School Division awarded nearly $2 million in tenders over the summer to contractors to complete work across the division, but supply-chain issues have prevented several projects from starting.  

Between June 1 and Aug. 31, the division office handed out $1,741,073.87 for 16 projects ranging from lighting upgrades to roof replacements to shower upgrades. 

Division administration presented the list of projects during the September board meeting.

“This one (list) is kind of long because the last time we met was at the beginning of June, so you have June, July and August in there … ,” said Ron Purdy, superintendent of business. 

Buildings manager Darren Baiton has been busy lately attempting to ensure everything is in place so these preventative maintenance and renewal (PMR) projects can proceed, Purdy continued. However, not all the work has started yet, while “a significant majority” of projects are still upcoming.

For example, the division awarded tenders for roof replacements in May. However, some projects haven’t started because contractors could not acquire shingles because of supply problems and won’t acquire them until November.

“Darren’s just trying to work ahead to make sure we can get to the end of next year and we’re not still waiting on those,” Purdy added. “Some of these have really long lead times.”

Projects

PSSD issued the following tenders between June and August:

• Exterior repairs to Assiniboia School for $61,835 to C&S Builders
• Site upgrades at Mossbank School for $24,492.87 to ANAC Inc.
• Site upgrades at Central Butte for $122,596 to C&S Builders
• Hallway lighting and ceiling upgrades at Eyebrow School for $166,000 to Pro-Tec Electric
• Cladding replacement at Bengough School for $26,200 to C&S Builders
• Roof replacement at Guthridge Field for $164,205 to Duncan Roofing
• A building system upgrade at Lindale School for $91,400 to Prairie Controls
• Building control upgrades at Avonlea School for $78,400 to Prairie Controls
• A tender was issued for an asphalt play surface at École Gravelbourg, but the only bid received was double the project cost, so the division did not award the work
• Control upgrades at Central Butte School for $64,000 to Prairie Controls 
• Shower room upgrades at Riverview Collegiate for $270,000 to Tymark
• Shower and washroom upgrades at Mossbank School for $336,000 to Tymark
• Upgrades to the home ec room at Mortlach School for $155,145 to C&S Builders
• A Bobcat Toolcat and similar machines were purchased from Nor-Val Sales for $79,900
• A life trailer was purchased from Zuma Lift Service for $29,000
• Three Sea-Can storage containers were purchased from The Container Guy for $51,900
• A network security testing program was awarded to IBM for three years at $20,000 per year
• A request for proposals was issued for banking services and the division awarded the RFP to the Bank of Montreal on points

The next PSSD board meeting is Tuesday, Oct. 4.