Steele Project On-Time, Under-Budget

Finally, some good news for Billings taxpayers, who will see roughly $500,000 in savings after the Ben Steele Middle School finishes construction.  KTVQ.com reports that the $29 million project– coming in on-time and under-budget– will begin the school year in August with an estimated 700 students at the West End school, located at 56th Street West and Grand Avenue.

Lew Anderson, School District 2 project bond manager, said ninety-two percent of the workers on this project were local contractors, and 100 percent were hired from within the state.  Anderson was picked as a new career and technical education director on Monday.  He has overseen a number of overhaul projects throughout the district from work on Senior High School to the restoration to McKinley and Broadwater Elementary schools.  A top priority of the district is keeping local contractors on the job.