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Board members approved contracts totaling $17.8 million with 14 contractors, including one from Lapeer. Board members expect to award another $1.7 million in contracts at their June 19 meeting.

Barton Malow Company spokesman, George Hamlin, the district's construction manager, told board members that while work at Woodside came in slightly higher than expected, work at Cramton Center came in slightly lower, so things balanced out. He added about 20% of the project is being awarded to local Lapeer contractors.

Cramton Center located on Lake Nepessing Road in Elba Township will be converted to accommodate the district's alternative high school program currently operated from Woodside.

Zemmer Junior High on Oregon Road in Mayfield Township will also be converted to serve as a 6-8 grade middle school. The building currently houses seventh grade.

In the first round of contracts Lapeer's Kerson Construction was awarded $906,464 for concrete work at the two schools. The largest single contract, $4.32 million for mechanical work, went to Dickerson-Dickerson Mechanical in nearby Davison. Rounding out the top four were Beverly Hill's Westwood Carpentry, $2.84 million for general trades work; Novi's Monte & Costello, $2.32 million for masonry; and Washington's James P Contracting, $2.27 million for steel work.

The board also awarded a $154,391 contract to Qualified Abatement Services to remove asbestos from the two buildings. "With a name like that, how could we go wrong," quipped board member Mike Nolan.

"These are huge numbers," noted board member George Oyster. "The community is investing money in our kids and a lot of the money is being pumped back into our economy."

Board member Denise Becker noted converting the Woodside Building and renovations to Cramton Center are the first major construction projects in the district since 1996.

The board expects to break ground on the projects Tuesday.

Phil Foley may be reached at (810) 664-0811, Ext. 8148 or pfoley@lapeergroup.com.