The following subcontractors have been chosen for the projects at the school:

Masonry - Bruce's Contracting - Backus

Demolition - North Fork Construction - Pine River

Carpentry - Schott Construction - Pine River

Plumbing - Lundberg Plumbing - Aitkin (current district vendor)

Electrical - Nies/ Pine River - Pine River

HVAC - Climate Makers - Brainerd (current district vendor)

Cabinets - still to be determined

Painting - Stellmach - Foley (current district vendor)

Sprinklers - Brothers - St. Cloud (current district vendor)

Security - Birchdale - Pequot Lakes (current district vendor)

Ceiling - St. Cloud Acoustical - St. Cloud (only proposal received)

Carpet - Floor to Ceiling - Brainerd (current district vendor)

Doors and Windows - Gull Lake Glass - Brainerd (current district vendor)

Pine River-Backus Schools received approval, in April, from the Minnesota Department of Education for the projects.

At the elementary, the remodeling will include enclosing core elementary classrooms with painted concrete block walls, wooden doors and sound-absorbing ceiling panels.

Additional remodeling at the elementary would include making bathrooms accessible to those with disabilities, remodeling the elementary office, and the nurses' office to provide a supervised rest area for students and more privacy.

The elementary project costs would comprise the bulk of the overall expense at an estimated $850,000, which includes architecture and engineering services.

The additional costs are estimated at $354,000, including architecture and engineering services.

The other $56,000 in the project includes financing and legal fees, and an allowance for discounts and capitalized interest.

Demolition is slated to begin at the school district on June 15. The interior elementary remodel and construction will be completed by the time school starts this fall.