CONRAD — At its Dec. 9 meeting, the BCLUW Board of Education held a public hearing and received bids on a previously discussed proposal to improve the elementary and high school buildings in Conrad with the eventual plan to close the current middle school in Union.

According to a press release issued after the meeting, the district received seven bids on the project, including bids that came in below the architectural firm’s estimated construction cost of $7.2 million. The board awarded the project to the low bidder, Garling Construction, at the meeting, at a total cost of $6,885,000.

“We look forward to breaking ground on this project next year and are excited about the improvements this will present for our students and community at BCLUW,” Superintendent Ben Petty said.