The Kenai Peninsula Borough has awarded a contract to Architects Alaska, Inc. of Soldotna for the development of a new school design in Kachemak Selo, a small remote community at the head of Kachemak Bay.

Previously, the borough approved a land purchase in June for the purpose of a new K-12 school building.

The borough solicited proposals for the project in October and November, receiving two bids. Architects Alaska’s bid was deemed the highest-ranking proposal and comes with a “lump sum cost proposal” of $1.3 million, according to a Jan. 9 memorandum to Borough Mayor Peter Micciche.

The authorized project consists of providing professional architectural and engineering services to complete 100% design development documents for the construction of a new K-Selo school. The project also includes development of cost estimates and energy consumption reports, the memo states.

It has been approximately nine years since the State of Alaska gave money to the borough to replace the school, though a new facility has been recognized as a need by the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District and the borough for more than a decade. Community members first asked the borough to consider improving their school in 2012 via a petition signed by 40 residents of the village, Homer News previously reported.

Authorization to award the contract to Architects Alaska, Inc. was approved by Micciche on Jan. 16, according to the mayor’s report for the Feb. 4 borough assembly meeting.

Find more information at kpb.legistar.com.