T-R PHOTO BY LANA BRADSTREAM — Executive Director of Finance and Operations Randy Denham breaks down a resolution of early bid packages and setting a public hearing date for the Miller Middle School project as Marshalltown Community School Board President Sean Heitmann looks on. The board gave unanimous approval.

Marshalltown residents will have a chance to weigh in on the Reimagine Miller project during a Nov. 17 public hearing.

During the regular Monday meeting, the Marshalltown Community School District approved the date and time for the public hearing. They also approved the construction of early bid packages, such as architectural and structural precast concrete, exterior glazing and curtain walls and elevators

Executive Director of Finance and Operations Randy Denham told the board members they have been in meetings with Boyd Jones Construction regarding the Miller Middle School project, which will renovate, expand and rebuild the school.

“We are now kind of at the stage where we have to start doing some of the formalities regarding resolutions . . . approving specs and estimates for the cost of the project,” he said.

The plan is to begin construction in the summer of next year. The bids for the majority of the $106 million project are scheduled to be submitted in February 2026.

“We will be doing this whole process again probably starting in late December or January sometime, but there are certain aspects of the project related to architectural structural precasts, concrete, exterior glazing, curtain walls and elevators,” Denham said. “So Boyd Jones, along with Invision, are putting together early bid packages, because most of these items have a lead time of at least a year, if not longer. So, we want to start the process now, the formalities to get these resolutions in place.”

The resolution Denham presented to the board ordered the construction of aforementioned packages. He added bids will be due back on Nov. 11, and Boyd Jones will have them ready for the board at the Nov. 17 public hearing.

“[Then] we’ll be looking to award the early bid for these precast items,” he said. “. . . I will have formal contracts ready for the early bid packages for your approval hopefully by Dec. 1.”

While the bulk of Reimagine Miller has not yet started, a noticeable aspect is almost complete – a renovation of Franklin Field at Franklin Elementary.

During the November general election, 68 percent of Marshalltown voters approved $57 million in general obligation funds for the project. The remaining $49 million will come out of the SAVE (Secure an Advanced Vision for Education) fund.

Once complete, the project will solve issues Miller is facing such as:

• Lack of space;

• Constant standing water and moisture in the basement;

• Inadequate heating and cooling;

• Updates to the media center, kitchen and bathroom entries and exits;

• Updated aesthetics and;

• Renovation of the gymnasium, wrestling area and locker room.

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Contact Lana Bradstream at 641-753-6611 ext. 210 or lbradstream@timesrepublican.com