Construction of Pleasant Valley's fifth elementary school could take longer than expected if weather conditions don't improve.

Work on Pleasant Valley School District's fifth elementary school was slated to begin in spring, after workers completed grading and excavation at the 25-acre site off Hopewell Avenue in Bettendorf. The site preparation started in September, and district leaders expected that work to be done in November. However, the first phase of the project has yet to be finished almost 10 months later. The reason? A rainy fall and spring, said Jim Spelhaug, Pleasant Valley superintendent.

"How much of an issue that (becomes in regard to the timeline) really depends on how the rest of the construction season goes," Spelhaug said. "If we get a stretch of good, dry weather, then we can make up some of that lost time in a hurry."

Spelhaug said construction is set to get under way this week, providing the weather cooperates. Leaders had hoped to open the $10 million two-section school in time for the start of the 2010-11 school year. The district will implement attendance boundary changes that the school board approved last school year once the school opens, which complicates things, he said.

Under the new boundaries, about 200 elementary students will have to switch schools. The district would draw an estimated 175 students from its existing four elementary schools to partially fill the new school, which will hold as many as 380 students.

Spelhaug said there are not any plans yet to address how the district will proceed if the new school isn't completed by August 2010.

"It's tricky to do that mid-year," Spelhaug said. "We will explore all of our options as the construction moves forward and determine what, if anything, we need to respond to."

School board members hired Miron Construction Co. in March to build the new school for almost $8.5 million. Its bid was the lowest among 10 submitting companies. Other costs include $879,000 to prepare the site and just more than $623,100 in architect fees.

Mike Clingingsmith, Pleasant Valley chief financial officer, said the bidding process was more competitive than in previous years, which helped the district secure a price that was lower than the $12.1 million cost estimate. That, in turn, prevented Pleasant Valley officials from having to borrow money to finance the project, he said.

The district will mostly use the money it collects each year from a one-cent sales tax. Currently, Pleasant Valley receives $3.1 million. However, next year that figure is expected to drop to almost $2.8 million.

"Our bids came back very competitive, because the private sector isn't doing a lot of work right now," said Deborah Dayman, school board president. "It worked out well for us."