Board approves $35,000 increase to Sequoia Eighth Grade Academy design contract for additional services

The Broken Arrow Public Schools Board approved Amendment No. 1 to the Narrate Designs contract for the Sequoia Eighth Grade Academy project, resulting in a net increase of $35,000 to the contract dated May 9, 2022.

"There were three specific additional services that resulted in this increase," said Mr. Leach, the district presenter. He listed a peer review for storm-shelter design required by the International Code Council (ICC), engineered plans for a large retaining wall required by the City of Broken Arrow, and additional work to reconfigure the administrative area after a decision changed how the building would be administered as construction began.

The board was told the increase covers additional professional design work; staff said the increase will be paid from bond funds. The motion to approve the amendment passed on a unanimous roll-call vote: Dr. Williams, Mrs. Taylor, Dr. Brandy Roulette, Mr. John Cockrell and Mr. Allen voted yes.

Discussion vs. decision: the presentation described specific, code-driven and site-driven design changes (storm-shelter peer review, engineered retaining wall plans, and administrative-area revisions). The board approved the contract increase; staff did not provide a detailed line-by-line cost breakdown beyond the $35,000 net increase during the public discussion.

Background: project documents presented at the meeting reference compliance with ICC guidance for storm shelter design and typical municipal requirements for engineered retaining walls.