Ames School Board Picks RDG Planning and Design

The Ames Community School Board voted 5 to 1 to negotiate a contract with RDG Planning and Design to design three new elementary schools and renovate two other elementary buildings in the district.

Board President Dan Woodin cast the dissenting vote. He said during the meeting that he prefered SVPA.

Some board members such as Mike Espeset said he wanted to wait a week to do some more homework like checking references. He had called half the people but didn't reach everyone, but he voted with the majority of the board when the time came.

But board member Teresa Simpson wanted to move forward she said.

“We know what we want for the community,” Simpson said.

A number of architects applied for the job and the board decided in recent weeks to interview six firms:

BCDM, of Omaha/, of Ames;

DLR Group, of Des Moines;

OPN Architects, of Des Moines; 

, of Ames;

StruXture Architects, of West Des Moines;

SVPA Architects, Inc. of West Des Moines.

The board met with the firms on May 29.

Board member Bill Talbot said Monday that he wouldn't mind moving ahead either.

“Our list of six appear to all be qualified,” Talbot said.

Board Member Rodney Briggs said he wouldn't mind waiting but already knew who he liked best.

“I do know in my own mind who I would prefer,” he said.

RDG was first on Briggs', Talbot's and Simpson's lists.

Espeset said later that RDG wasn't hard to pick.

The board will now have to negotiate a contract with the firm.

The board also approved Ames School Board superintendent's contract for 2012-13. His annual salary is set at $148,000, amounting to a raise of $4,000.

Board member David Putz did not attend the meeting.