Board approves GMP amendment with Hammond Construction for new maintenance and transportation center; groundbreaking set April 1

The North Ridgeville City Board of Education on March 18 approved Guaranteed Maximum Price Amendment No. 2 with Hammond Construction to build a new maintenance and transportation center and authorized site work to begin as early as March 19.

The superintendent (name not specified) told the board that, if approved, “that work will begin as early as tomorrow ... Trees will begin to be cleared, and we will begin to, see a lot of action on that site.” The amendment is intended to allow the district to begin construction on a facility the superintendent said will let staff vacate existing buildings once the new center is complete.

The board and district staff said the project will include a groundbreaking ceremony at 5 p.m. on April 1; Hammond Construction and TDA will attend and the district plans a small reception before the regularly scheduled board meeting. District leaders also said they will host a neighbor briefing on April 9 in the boardroom for about 42 property owners along Pitts and Bainbridge to review construction impacts and traffic and to answer questions.

Mister Sherman, who spoke near the end of the meeting, said construction timing targets a January completion for the new transportation and maintenance center. “We are looking at a January completion for the p and m center, the transportation and maintenance center of the new facility,” Sherman said.

Board members approved the GMP amendment in a single reading following the buildings and operations report. Several routine agenda items were also approved during the meeting, including financial statements and human resources actions; there were no public commenters in attendance.

Votes at a glance: The board recorded the following formal actions during the March 18 meeting: 1) Appointment of Wendy as treasurer pro tem for the purpose of recording the minutes — moved by Miss McCarthy, seconded by Mister Grigsby; outcome: approved (roll call). 2) Approval of written summaries of special and regular minutes (Feb. 4, Feb. 12 and Feb. 18, 2025) — moved by Miss Saxon, seconded by Mister Grigsby; outcome: approved. 3) Approval of financial statements and reports for February 2025 — moved by Miss McCarthy, seconded by Mister Grigsby; outcome: approved. 4) Approval of Guaranteed Maximum Price Amendment No. 2 with Hammond Construction for the transportation and maintenance center — moved by the buildings and operations presenter, seconded by Miss McCarthy; outcome: approved (roll call). 5) Human resources items including support staff appointments, substitute contracts, certified staff adjustments and resignations — moved by Mister Grigsby, seconded by Miss McCarthy; outcome: approved. 6) Approval of the consent agenda as presented — moved by Miss Saxon, seconded by Miss McCarthy; outcome: approved. The meeting was then adjourned following a motion moved and seconded by board members.

District officials said invitations for the neighbor briefing will be mailed in the days after the meeting and reiterated that construction activity, including tree clearing, could begin immediately. The board’s next regular meeting will include the April 1 groundbreaking at 5 p.m., followed by that night’s regular meeting.