School board members approved a recommendation from Superintendent Chris Gaines to enter contract negotiations with two architectural firms for future capital improvement projects. The motion passed 6-0 with board member Mary Groeper absent at last Thursday's meeting. The firms - Bond Wolfe Architects and Cochran Engineering - are likely to team up in the district's next major project, a plan to add air conditioning to the remainder of the high school and the elementary gym and to upgrade the athletic facilities. In order to fund the $3.5 million project, the district will be asking patrons to approve a no-tax increase bond proposal next April. The school board has yet to officially approve the proposal, but approval is expected at its next meeting, pushed back a week to Jan. 22. The deadline to place a proposal on the April ballot is Jan. 27, 2009. "We are really happy with these two firms and excited about where we could go with them and their level of expertise," Gaines said. Cochran Engineering has three offices in the St. Louis metro area, including one in Wentzville. Bond Wolfe also is a St. Louis-based firm and has extensive experience working with school districts. When asked by Board President Austin Jones about the strengths of each firm, Gaines said both possess different intangibles to serve a particular job. "Cochran brings, from my perspective, their local knowledge," Gaines answered. "They have really helped us out on some local stuff. They have been a go-to folk with us. They have been involved in the new elementary and they also have served as a resource on a lot of other projects for us. "However, the design related to the new football field is really a strength for Bond Wolfe and some of the projects they've done at schools around the metro area. We think the two of them bring something to the table and two firms we can work with over the long run." Gaines also noted using two firms won't be costing the district more money. Instead, the district will use a particular firm for a project that is considered more appropriate than using the other. The district is currently using DLR Group, a company highly regarded nationwide according to district officials, on the construction of the new elementary school located off Cotton Road near Foristell. Without getting into specifics, Gaines said a change was needed. The company will finish the new building which is expected to be completed in the spring after a December opening was postponed. 8 "We weren't happy with their performance," Gaines acknowledged. The R-II district solicited proposals from interested firms and met with three. After checking references, Gaines visited the offices of Cochran Engineering and Bond Wolfe on Dec. 17. Gaines noted contract negotiations should be a formality and involve attorneys for all three. The district hopes a contract can be completed and be ready for approval at next month's meeting. Though the district is interested in using two architectural firms now, it was noted it could dwindle down to one in the future. "Part of it is to feel out which one we like more and who will be our go-to all the time," Gaines said. "I really would like to establish a long term relationship with somebody."