The Orange County School Board voted April 10 to authorize a contract with ESG to perform structural and plumbing work on two restrooms and to coordinate renovations across four restrooms at multiple school sites, approving the proposal by roll call.

Mister Atkins introduced the item and said ESG provided pricing that contractors had agreed to hold, but staff warned that delays raise cost risk. ESG representatives told the board the contractor believed the work could be completed in time for the next school year if the project began promptly. “The quicker we can get started, the better we are,” an ESG representative told the board, and the contractor indicated completion by August was feasible.

Board members reviewed options the district had considered: a $40,000 payoff to disengage from ESG, an $80,000 payoff plus purchase of plans, or moving forward with ESG’s proposal. Board members were told one line item of the proposal is $65,000 for materials that cover fixtures, sinks, partitions, paint and flooring for all four restrooms. Staff described the main ESG scope as structural and plumbing work on two of the restrooms; the other two would receive cosmetic “face-lift” work by the district.

Jared Carlson, ESG’s engineer, described reuse of the building’s existing waste piping locations: “All the existing holes will be reused for the PVC wastewater piping,” he said, noting the project scope avoids drilling new holes in the concrete floor for drains.

Board members raised concerns about electrical work that had previously been in the plan but was removed to reduce costs. Staff confirmed ESG’s proposal does not include moving electrical panels or adding new exhaust fans, HVAC feeds or lighting; the work will rely on existing electrical where feasible. Board members also discussed whether the district’s maintenance workforce could handle finish work over a busy summer schedule and whether hiring additional contractors would be necessary.

Board member discussion emphasized timeliness. The board passed the motion to contract with ESG by roll call: Adams — Yes; Alexander — Yes; Daniel — Yes; Dryden — Yes; Shannon — Yes; Watson — Yes; Weathers — Yes. Mister Atkins and ESG were instructed to coordinate schedules and to have ESG representatives attend monthly meetings to report on progress.

The board discussed funding sources. Staff said the district fund balance was around $17,000,000; the board did not specify a budget line item in the meeting record. The board also asked staff to continue seeking local contractor pricing that could reduce cost and to confirm the final scope and electrical requirements before work begins.