Pendleton school board picks project manager for bond

Published 9:36 am Thursday, November 14, 2013

With just two applicants to choose from, Pendleton School Board picked the local Wenaha Group as project manager for the estimated $50 million bond passed Nov. 5.

Owned by Rob Quaempts, the Wenaha Group is a Pendleton-based construction management company focusing on rural areas. Dave Fishel, who served as project manager for the Hermiston schools bond in 2008, will serve as project principal.

According to board chair Debbie McBee, the district used a point system to score the applicants.

We didnt know who was going to have the winning bid, McBee said. Wenaha Group came out with the highest number of points. They just understood our needs and communicated them well.

The district began its search for a project manager in the beginning of October, before votes were tallied, in hopes that work could begin soon after the bond passed.

To comply with the states new full-day kindergarten requirement, the Wenaha Group must transform Hawthorne Alternative School into an early education center and kindergarten by the fall of 2015. All but Hawthornes shell will be rebuilt in the $8 million process.

Next, the company will rebuild Washington and Sherwood Heights elementary schools at a cost of $17 million each. The new buildings are set to open in the fall of 2016. All district schools will also get security and energy efficiency upgrades.

The project managers last major task will be to convert Lincoln Primary School into the new district offices. The current Southwest Frazer offices will be demolished and turned into parking for Hawthorne.

Contact Natalie Wheeler at nwheeler@eastoregonian.com or 541-966-0836.

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