Sherman ISD hears $51.3 million guaranteed maximum price for new early childhood center

Sherman ISD construction partners presented a guaranteed maximum price (GMP) of $51,313,911 for a new early childhood center and outlined a construction schedule and procurement plan during the May 20 board meeting.

Steve Norman of CORE presented a rendering and a GMP summary to trustees and said the district anticipates permit approval around June 9, staff move-out between May 23 and July 7, on-site construction start around July 8 and substantial completion by Nov. 19, 2026. Norman said the GMP presented was the base-price package and did not include alternates.

Trustees asked questions about sequencing and logistics. District staff said Crutchfield and Fairview elementary projects will be demolished and reconstructed first; Wakefield will be used temporarily to store items removed from those campuses. Norman reported improved bidder turnout for the early childhood center work, stating the project drew stronger market interest than earlier elementaries — “we had over 250 proposals from the market on this one,” he said — and that the team plans to order long-lead items promptly, once approvals and amendments are in place, to reduce exposure to tariffs.

Board members asked whether the new center would open mid-year; the project team said that is not the current plan and that additional time will be used for move-in checks and furniture setting. Trustees also asked about the metal office building at the high school and were told its internal components will be built out for offices and later converted to maintenance operations when other projects are complete.

No formal board action or vote on the GMP was recorded in the meeting transcript; the item was presented as information and trustees posed clarifying questions about schedule, storage, sequencing and procurement.