Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) announced Thursday that it will restart the bidding process for the demolition of the fire‑damaged Lincoln Avenue School. The decision follows an appeal by local contractor MRD Group, which argued that the district’s original award to TW Chicago was far above comparable bids.

Background

In June, a fire razed the Lincoln Avenue School building. The city of Milwaukee determined in July that the structure must be demolished and the site cleared of hazardous materials. MPS initially selected a bid from TW Chicago estimated at roughly $4.8 million.

Appeal and new bid figures

MRD Group, a Milwaukee‑based demolition firm, submitted a proposal for $928,000—significantly lower than the district’s first choice. The company formally appealed the award, contending that the price discrepancy was “unheard of in the industry.” MRD’s Marcus Dumke explained, “We’re only ten minutes from the job site, so logistics make our bid naturally more competitive.” He added that the original documents described only demolition and abatement work, leaving no justification for the higher price.

MPS response

Superintendent Brenda Cassellius said the appeal would be reviewed by the district’s Office of Accountability and Efficiency. When asked whether the original process was fair, she deferred to that office for a formal determination. Cassellius also noted that the district’s insurance company had negotiated a rate of $4.7 million to cover the demolition, so the higher bid would not have resulted in a loss to taxpayers.

“Our number one priority is community safety,” Cassellius said. “We have 24‑hour security around the building, dust control measures, and we are handling hazardous materials with great care.”

Next steps

The new bidding round is set to begin next week, with MPS aiming to select a contractor during the first week of December. Demolition work is expected to start shortly after a contract is signed and to be completed by the end of March.

Dumke expressed relief that the appeal process worked, but warned that the rebid does not guarantee MRD Group will win. “We’ll have to be competitive, and now that our numbers are public, we’ll prepare a bid response once we see the request for proposals,” he said.

Impact on the community

Residents have voiced concerns about environmental hazards and the safety of the site. The district’s emphasis on security and dust suppression aims to address those worries while the demolition proceeds.

Milwaukee Public Schools will continue to update the public as the rebidding process moves forward.

Original reporting: FOX6 WITI – local news — read the source article.