By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
Doing things the right way may not be the cheapest way. But USD 428 Assistant Superintendent John Popp insisted Monday night the proper channels needed to be followed for roof repairs between the Great Bend High School Field House and PAC, the GBHS gymnasium, and at Park Elementary. The board ultimately approved an architectural study on the roofs for $35,000.
“There may be roofing companies who would be willing to do it without this,” Popp said. “For protection of the district, we need to have these specs lined out very well so everyone knows what they’re bidding on and we know exactly what is being put on the roofs.”
Board Member Deanna Essmiller said she has been approached by a company that said it could do the work without an architectural study. Popp and USD 428 Maintenance Director Dirk Davis insisted a study is necessary based on the level of work needing completed.
“If we just said we needed a new roof on Park, one roofing company will bid us inferior product and be able to do it way cheaper,” Popp said. “When the architects put out these bid specs, everybody has to be on the same materials, the same level of replacement.”
Board Member Sara Williams asked if an architectural study is a departure from recent roof repairs. Superintendent Khris Thexton said most recent repairs have been a result of storm damage that did not require a study. The last major project at Washington Elementary did require a similar study. Wichita-based Innovative Groups will handle the study, and bids for the work will be presented to the board at the January meeting.