Sturdi Steel Bleachers of Waco, Texas, was the low bidder and was awarded the contract for Claremore Public Schools’ football stadium bleacher seating, the first in a series of bid packages for the football complex renovation.

The stadium work is part of the $42.975 million bond issue passed by school district voters in November 2007.

Sturdi Steel beat out four other companies, with a bid $1,056,000.

“They’ve done a lot of stadium bleachers,” Bob Wright with LWPB Architecture told members of the Claremore Board of Education. “They’ve been around a long time.”

Wright said the estimated total cost of the football stadium project, including the new bleachers, artificial turf, entrance building, concession and restroom building and football fieldhouse, is currently between $4,816,718 and $5,704,230.

The board also approved the 90 percent construction document for the stadium renovations second bid package — the site-prep, including demolition and installation of artificial turf.

Wright said the tentative completion dates are April 7 for site demolition, April 28 for earthwork and May 26 for the artificial turf.

“Sept. 12 is the first football game,” Wright said. “We’re hoping to have this done by the first of August to the middle of August, barring any bad weather.”

The design and development phase of two more 2007 bond issue projects, the classroom additions at Will Rogers Junior High and Claremore High School, was approved by the board.

Tentative completion date for the additions is July 2009.

“We’re on track with all this,” Wright said. “We’re on schedule and under budget — with our high priority right now the football stadium.”

The board approved Rick Scott Construction to serve as construction manager for the football stadium project and Key Construction as construction manager for the classroom additions.

A resolution was passed setting the sale of the first series of general obligation combined purpose bonds — $4,725,000 of the recently voted $42,975,000 bond issue. The sale will be noon Feb. 27 at the Claremore Pubic Schools Administration Building at 310 N. Weenonah. The bonds will become due in the schedule of $1,180,000 in two years from their date, and $1,180,000 annually each year following until paid, expect for the last installment which will be for $1,185,000.

After an executive session, the board approved the employment of Todd Steidley, principal, Claremore High School; Paul Hocutt, assistant principal, Claremore High School; Jay Ensley, assistant principal, Claremore High school; Terry Adams, principal, Will Rogers Junior High; Bill Adams, assistant principal, Will Rogers Junior High; Kari Forest, principal, Central Upper Elementary; Glenn Abshere, assistant principal, Central Upper Elementary; Kay Johnson, principal, Roosa Elementary; Lou Robertson, principal, Westside Elementary; Steve Jones, assistant principal; Kellye Shuck, principal, Claremont Elementary; John Killebrew, principal/director, Alternative Learning Center; Robin Foxworth, director, Project CEEP; Joe Ann Ryan, director, Child Nutrition; Sandy Thompson, director, transportation; Sharon Sumter, director, maintenance; Girls Soccer Coach, Claremore High School Amanda Hedgpath; Assistant Girls Soccer Coach Robin Sutherland; and full-time cafeteria substitute Danielle Loftis.