Board selects Balfour Beatty as construction manager at risk for Ashley Elementary

The Winston‑Salem/Forsyth County Board of Education approved staff’s recommendation to select Balfour Beatty as the construction manager at risk (CMAR) for the Ashley Elementary replacement project and authorized a fee for project estimation services.

Daryl Walker, executive director for facility planning and construction, told the board the selection process began with an April 2025 request for qualifications, eight responses, a four‑firm interview short list and a final scoring that produced the Balfour Beatty recommendation. Walker said staff negotiated with the contractor to prepare for a guaranteed maximum price (GMP) and requested $46,020.04 for a firm cost estimate and project‑estimation services, to be funded from previously authorized 2023–25 two‑thirds bond proceeds earmarked for the Ashley project.

Board members and community advocates emphasized local job creation and minority‑business participation. Reverend Alvin Carlisle and Action for Equity urged the board to approve Balfour Beatty and to pursue at least 30% minority‑business participation; community commenters said the project could produce workforce and apprenticeship opportunities for East Winston. Board member questions focused on local subcontractor use, the contractor’s regional office and whether the GMP would show MWBE breakdowns. Walker said staff expects to return with a GMP and detailed MWBE commitments by the end of the year and estimated an 18‑month construction schedule after contract approval.

Vote and funding: the motion to select Balfour Beatty passed 7–2. District staff said the primary funding sources for the project are the district’s 2023–25 two‑thirds bond allocation, possible proceeds from sale of surplus land and lottery repair‑and‑restoration funds; staff also said those capital funds are restricted to capital projects and may not be used for operating expenses without separate approvals.

What happens next: upon board approval staff, architect and the CMAR will finalize scope and cost, prepare a GMP and present value‑engineering options if a funding gap appears. The board asked that MWBE participation be delineated by minority and women percentages in the GMP documents.