Bids came in under estimate for four metal building projects for the Berryville, Ark., school district, and the school board will now take bids on three remaining projects that had been set aside until the cost of the larger endeavors was known.

That cost is $12.83 million, plus an additional 15 percent for furniture and fixtures.

They were "the best bids I've seen in a long time," architect Gary Jackson told the board Tuesday.

For the Upper Elementary School project, a bid of $5.93 million from CAC Builders of Cabot was the winner.

As part of the metal building project, the children in grades 3-5 will be moved off the crowded older east campus, freeing up more space here for the upper grades. The new school should be open in time for the 2008-2009 school year.

As far as the basketball gym, a bid of approximately $4.58 million from Crossland Construction of Rogers was the chosen sum.

The gym should be completed in about 14 months, opening in time for the basketball season in the 2008-2009 school year.

Meanwhile, a $2.28 million bid from GEI/Greer Excavation of Green Forest got the nod for two projects on the old east campus. A new music venue - a prefabricated metal building - will be erected.

The old band building will then be expanded with another metal building used for physical education.

The state of Arkansas will pay $840,000 and local funds will pay up to$595,000 on the new steel building to house the band and choir.

All of the steel building projects should be completed on budget and during the upcoming school year, officials believe.

Even with the $2 million that will be needed for furniture and fixtures for the first four metal buildings, the board was told there will be money left for the three projects that won't get state funding.

The cost had been set aside until the cost of the first four metal buildings was determined by bids, the school board learned Monday.