District staff told the committee that reconciled cost estimates for the Ida B. Wells modernization show the project is within an attainable path to budget after recent value engineering.

Donna (last name not given), presenting for the project team, said two professional cost estimates — from the CMGC and an independent estimator — initially showed the project was about $24.8 million over a hard cost target of $345 million. Following value engineering work with the CMGC, the overage was reduced to roughly $4 million, or about 1.5% over the hard‑cost budget, which the team described as within industry norms at the current schematic design stage.

Donna listed several savings measures realized during the value‑engineering process: about $900,000 by eliminating temporary shoring walls, roughly $600,000 in structural refinements, about $100,000–$300,000 from HVAC adjustments and roughly $1 million from reducing site retaining walls and changing finished floor elevations to avoid expensive dirt haul‑off. The team said it will continue to look for further savings during design development.

The team and board discussed two community items that remain unresolved: relocation or retention of the farmers market and the school pool’s availability during construction. Donna said staff is coordinating with Parks & Recreation and community stakeholders to develop a phased approach and that those issues do not currently delay design but could affect final cost depending on decisions.

The board was told the Ida B. Wells plan is scheduled to come to the board for a vote in November, contingent on closing the remaining coordination items and completing the design deliverables.