St Joseph School District officials on Monday released to the public the contracts signed with two architectural firms to design two new elementary schools here.   (Click links to read contracts)

The school board signed contracts with River Bluff Architects for the school at the Carden Park site, and with Ellison-Auxier Architects for the new facility going up at Bishop and Cook roads.  Both companies are based in St Joseph.

Earlier, officials estimated the Carden Park school will cost $17.9 million, and the Bishop and Cook Roads project will cost about $15.3 million.

Those estimates include the costs of roads, bridges and other infrastructure which must still be negotiated with the city.

The cost to the district for architectural services will be four and three quarters percent of the total construction cost of the projects.  The construction costs do not include the infrastructure expenses.

There remain several governmental processes and permissions, possible voluntary annexation proceedings, and other planning and design deadlines that must be met.  Officials believe they could begin construction on the two schools in late 2012 or early 2013, weather permitting.