Gadsden board approves $864,772 GMP amendment to start Phase 1 demolition and site work

The Gadsden County School Board at a special meeting approved a guaranteed maximum price amendment of $864,772 to begin Phase 1 work on the district’s new school, clearing the way for summer demolition, temporary bus routing and other site preparations.

The GMP approved covers Phase 1 activities that project representatives said are already included in the district’s overall budget for the project and will fund demolition, fencing, abatement work and temporary campus changes before school resumes. Scott Brewer, Allstate representative, told the board, “what we need the board to do is take action on that guaranteed price as an amendment to the contract.”

The amendment authorizes early construction steps while the design team continues drawings toward a final guaranteed price. Brewer said permitting for site, environmental and building approvals is not part of this phase; he added that inspection services for construction will be provided by Rod McQueen, a registered building official with Leon County Schools, and that McQueen’s fees are lower than other options. “We’re not to a point to start the site permitting, environmental permitting and building permitting just…