By Lori EhdeLuverne School Board members started the process of a summer remodeling project by setting April 14 as the date to receive bids from contractors.The south wing of the middle school-high school will receive a new heating and cooling system, and offices in that wing will be remodeled and updated. The plan is for the principals’ offices, currently across the hall from each other, to both be located together on the west side of the hall, along with a conference room.On the east side of the hall, student services will be located together with a shared reception area. These offices include counselor, school nurse and athletic director.At their Friday meeting, board members set bid opening for 1 p.m. Wednesday, April 14.Work will start this summer when school gets out.The work is a continuation of the heating and cooling renovation in the middle school-high school building that started last year.Work on the west wing was completed last year, along with updates to the hall lighting.Similar work on the north wing will be done next year.Transportation bidsThe board accepted bids on two school buses and one Suburban-type vehicle Friday.The low bid of $117,308 was submitted by Grande American Blue Bird, Anoka, for two 72-passenger buses.The district purchased the second bus from Grande American with convection heat for an additional $350.A bid of $122,947 was submitted by Hoglund Bus Co., Monticello.The board also approved the low bid of $24,973 from Nelson Dodge-GMC, Fergus Falls for a 2004 GMC Yukon XL 1500. Other bids were submitted by Papik Motors, Luverne, for a $27,530 Chevy Suburban, and by Herman Motors for a $27,300 Ford Expedition.Because the low bid was so much lower than the local bids, board members said they were obligated to go with the low bid. The district is obligated to accept the low bid, if there’s not a specific reason not to, for example, if the low bid didn’t meet specifications.Nelson-Dodge will deliver the new Yukon and drive back the 1999 Chevy Suburban trade-in. It had 190,00 miles on it.