Swank Enterprises has been selected as the contractor for the West Valley School addition and renovation project.

West Valley School trustees awarded the contract at a meeting Monday. Swank submitted the lowest base bid at $4.9 million. 

CTA Architects Engineers had estimated the base cost at $5.2 million.

Contractors also bid out “add alternates” to be completed if funding is available. Those include kitchen ventilation equipment, an exterior canopy and sound absorption panels for the gym. 

Including the alternates, Swank’s total bid was $5.4 million. The project will include about $1.8 million for new classroom furniture and fixtures, fees, permits and a contingency fund.

Trustees moved one add alternate — food service equipment for the kitchen — off the list in hopes of being awarded a $400,000 Montana Quality Schools Grant.  

The school will find out if about the grant award in April 2015.

Voters had approved $6.8 million in bonds for the project in October. 

New construction will encompass roughly 34,400 square feet. Construction includes 15 classrooms, administrative offices, a media center, auxiliary gym and kitchen.

The addition will be constructed to the west and south of the existing building.

The project comes at a time of significant enrollment growth. Commercial development  also has been on the upswing and could lead to further growth in residential developments.

Other bidders on the project included Martel Construction and Oswood Construction Co. Martel’s base bid was $5.5 million and Oswood’s was $5.3 million.

West Valley Superintendent Cal Ketchum said the next step is to create a construction contract this week. Ketchum said ground might be broken for the project as early as next week.

Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or by email at hmatheson@dailyinterlake.com.