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Bullitt County construction updates: Bullitt East nearing completion; staff outline change orders and bid plans
Summary
District staff reported Bullitt East High School nearing ‘dry in’ status, change orders to protect a geothermal field and gym joist work, life‑safety upgrades at a middle school, and plans to release bids for two physical science centers.
Bullitt East High School is nearing enclosure and district project staff told the board they expect to complete key exterior work and interior hallway connections this summer, pending weather and coordination with school staff. Studio Kramer representative Kate Noble Ward presented an update on multiple capital projects and described several site and structural change orders that arose during construction.
The update matters because the change orders affect project scopes and contingencies for taxpayer‑funded school construction. The largest site change involved adding 1.5 inches of pavement thickness over a geothermal field to protect the system; district staff agreed with the contractor’s recommendation. Kate Noble Ward noted a small $500 core‑drill change to connect an existing drain, and additional costs to reconfigure utility work where the utility company required different placement. For gym work, staff removed and resupported existing joists to continue work beneath the structure; the contractor did not charge overhead and profit for that joist removal, Ward said.
Ward also described life‑safety ceiling, paint and audio upgrades at Burnheim (Bernheim) Middle School scheduled for summertime work to avoid disruption to students, and progress at North Bullitt’s Physical Science Center where joists and decking are being set. “They should be under the roof deck within a couple of weeks, and then they’ll be working on the interior,” Ward told the board.
Staff asked the board for approval to release simultaneous bids for physical science centers at Bullitt East and Bullitt Central; Ward said the release would occur the Wednesday after the meeting with a June 12 bid opening. The transcript does not record a formal board vote on that release during the meeting; the item was presented as a request for board approval and a staff action item.
District facilities staff also reported storm damage on outdoor athletic facilities; contractors have been alerted and will address fencing, lighting, bleacher and drainage issues. Tony Roth’s drone photography was shown to document progress at several campuses.
Background and finance: Ward said one component of the change orders was charged to a BG‑1 contingency budget so general fund dollars would not be used for the life‑safety work. Staff emphasized they are managing contingencies to limit reliance on the district’s general fund.
Next steps: Staff will pursue the bid release if the board authorizes it in follow‑up action and will return to the board with formal contract approvals and any adopted change orders for vote as required.
