1. (a) This section does not apply if the board by formal vote elects to:

   1. (1) build;
   2. (2) enlarge;
   3. (3) make alterations to; or

   4. (4) make improvements to;

      a school or building owned by the board if the project described in subdivisions (1) through (4) will cost not more than fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000) and the board intends to complete the project using its own employees.

2. (b) If subsection (a) does not apply and the board determines to:

   1. (1) build;
   2. (2) enlarge;
   3. (3) make alterations to; or

   4. (4) make improvements to;

      a school or building owned by the board, the cost of which is estimated to be more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000), the business manager or other board designated employee shall advertise for bids in the manner provided in subsection (c).

3. (c) The advertisements for bids must be placed as follows:

   1. (1) One (1) advertisement must be placed each week for three (3) weeks.
   2. (2) The first advertisement must be placed at least twenty-one
   3. (21) days before the bids are opened.

   4. (3) The advertisement must be placed in two (2) newspapers of general circulation in the city.

      The board shall enter in full in the minutes that advertisements for bids have been placed under this subsection.

4. (d) If bids are taken under this section, a bid must be:

   1. (1) enclosed by the bidder in an envelope sealed by the bidder; and

   2. (2) presented at a meeting of the board or the bid committee of the board at the time and place fixed by the advertisement.

      A bid may not be received after the time established in the advertisement.

5. (e) The business manager at the hour established in the advertisements and in the presence of the board or the bid committee shall open all the bids. The bids must then be publicly read by a designated employee and be immediately entered in full in the records of the board.

6. (f) The board shall, by general rules, specify the condition of each bid, and only the lowest and best bids from responsible bidders may be accepted. The board may, if the board has reason to suspect collusion among bidders, reject the bids of all bidders involved in the collusion.

   [Pre-2005 Elementary and Secondary Education Recodification Citation: 20-3-11-16.]

As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.9.