Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the School Construction topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board hears final-phase update on Lapeer High School renovations; committee backs $47,500 locker-room painting change order
Summary
District and contractor representatives told the board that interior work at Lapeer High School is wrapping up, the Performing Arts Center (PAC) and auditorium remain on a December turnover timeline, and a finance committee recommended a change order for up to $47,500 to paint locker-room ceramic tile.
Lapeer Community Schools officials told the board that major interior renovations at Lapeer High School are nearing completion and the district expects construction work under the 2022 bond to wind up by 2026.
In a presentation, Julia Beruski of Bartimello said, "Currently, we're wrapping up the interior and auditorium renovations at Le Pere High School" and that the design team and contractor are "evaluating final bond projects and deciding which ones are gonna move forward," with an intent to finalize that list within the next month so follow-up construction can proceed next summer.
The update covered scope and progress: district staff reported roughly $2,500,000 of interior renovations (not counting the auditorium addition), replacement of more than 470 fire-alarm devices across the building, replacement of roughly 1,400 end-of-life fire-suppression elements, installation of about 12,500 ceiling tiles and more than 450 LED light fixtures, new bathroom finishes, converted media-center space into two classrooms, mechanical upgrades to add air conditioning in previously uncooled rooms, and parking and circulation changes including a new bus loop that added about 125 parking spaces and 5,000 tons of new asphalt between two lots.
Beruski described work on the Performing Arts Center and auditorium as substantial but still active, saying contractors have poured tiered seating, installed ramps and rough-in for new lighting, and are preparing roofing and rooftop equipment with a target turnover of December for that space. The presentation also noted significant work on athletic spaces: the locker rooms required removal of aged walls and floor systems to address ADA compliance and will be returned with epoxy floors, ceramic tile, remodeled shower stalls and separated JV/varsity spaces.
The finance and operations committee reviewed a bond change order (Bid Pack No. 6) related to additional painting in the LHS locker rooms. Committee minutes state Bartimello "recommends the issuance of a change order to AMex Painting Company for additional painting in the locker rooms in the amount not to exceed $47,500," to include wall cleaning, prep and two-part paint over existing ceramic tile. The committee "consensed to recommend full board approval" of that change order; a member of the board later moved to award the work, but a roll-call vote was not recorded in the transcript.
Board members and staff discussed traffic and arrival patterns associated with the high school remodel: administrators said the district now estimates roughly 600 vehicles arrive during morning drop-off windows, with about 43 buses in prior years reduced to 28 and roughly 200 student parking permits in use. Superintendent Lawrie noted the change increases parent drop-off volume and that staff and local police were working to refine ingress and egress during the 7:00–7:25 a.m. peak.
Why it matters: the district is entering the final phase of a voter-approved bond program passed in November 2022; choices made now will determine which remaining projects are built with remaining bond dollars, when they are scheduled and how construction will affect school operations.
Discussion-only items: staff emphasized the need to prioritize remaining projects based on funding left in the bond and operational needs; they described temporary accommodations (temporary walls in locker rooms) while work continues.
Direction: staff said they expect to finalize the set of projects that will proceed next month to meet summer construction windows and will return recommended change orders to the board for approval.
Formal actions/existing motions: the finance and operations committee recommended full-board approval of change order No. 28 (AMex Painting Company) not to exceed $47,500; a motion to award that work was made at the meeting but the transcript does not record a final vote tally.
The presentation included numerous before/after images and on-site observations; staff thanked the public for supporting the bond and the district construction team for summer logistics during opening-week operations.
