Project 2 remains on budget, committee told; steel erection and crane mobilization set as students return

District 200 staff updated the Community Finance Committee on Aug. 12 about Project 2 construction progress and budget status, saying the work is on schedule and on budget at about $102 million. Brian, a finance staff member who presented the project dashboard, told the committee the group-bid total was just under $102,000,000 and that the construction team has not significantly drawn down contingency allowances. He said trade packages include allowances and that the district and project manager are actively protecting those allowances. The nut graf: Staff reported only a few days of delay associated with a subcontractor change in the steel package but said the schedule and budget remain recoverable. A 360‑ton crane was scheduled to arrive as students returned to the building; staff said mobilization activities would continue after students arrived. Construction details: Brian said steel erection is in progress and that the team expects to remain within a 3% forecast variance on the $102 million budget. He highlighted the project website time-lapse camera as a public way to monitor progress and said the project team (including contractor Gilbane) will provide a quarterly update showing visuals and a look back at recent work. Discussion and context: Committee members asked about the sequencing of capital work and whether some nonurgent projects should be deferred if Project 3 or other large work follows. Facilities staff (referenced during the discussion) said the committee and facilities team will evaluate project timing and life-cycle costs to avoid redoing recent work if larger renovations follow. Ending: Staff said they will continue weekly construction coordination meetings, report quarterly on progress, and return to the committee with periodic dashboard updates.