The Lake Travis ISD board on Sept. 17 approved an amendment to the guaranteed maximum price (GMP) for the Lake Travis High School science-wing addition to cover two permitting-driven items required by Travis County: enlargement and related concrete work for a detention pond and a firewall between the new addition and the existing building.

Pam presented the amendment, explaining that both items arose during permitting and fire-marshal review after the original GMP was prepared. The two items were listed as an additional $263,787 for detention and related concrete/drainage work and $88,907.64 for a firewall, for a combined amendment of $352,784.64. Pam said these were costs the district did not foresee prior to the original GMP approval and that the science-wing GMP had to be amended to reflect the permitting changes.

Administration said the requested change remains within the overall bond budget for the science addition. Construction staff explained the permitting review process can produce late-stage requirements from the county (for example, detention design or fire-rating verification) that affect scope and cost; the board heard that the fire marshal requested confirmation of the existing wall rating and the district chose the more-conservative solution of adding a rated firewall rather than demolish or test the existing wall.

Trustee questions focused on when and how the permitting-driven items emerged in the review cycle; administrators said permitting and plan review often run late in the schedule and that some requirements were not evident until inspector comments arrived. The amendment was presented as necessary to proceed with the science-wing schedule, which administration said aims to have the science rooms available in October 2026.

Trustee Keeley moved to approve the GMP amendment totaling $16,921,160.64 (this figure reflects the revised total GMP after amendment as presented to the board); the motion passed unanimously with a second from Chris. The board was assured bond funds remain sufficient for the project within the current budget allotments.