Bond oversight: middle school replacement moves toward permits and fall guaranteed maximum price

The Molalla River School District 35 bond oversight committee reported consensus that bond proceeds are being used effectively and in compliance with voter-approved ballot language and state law.

Committee member Myers told the board the oversight group has met six times since October and reviewed financial reports, project status, design scope and schedules. The committee said it found no allegations of misuse, waste or noncompliance and that answers to committee questions have been adequately provided by the district's design and project teams.

At the capital projects update, district staff including Dr. Stewart and program manager Bob Collins said the district received a reconciled design-development estimate and is in the construction documents phase. The district has submitted land-use permits and DEQ permits and plans to finalize an early work authorization (EWA) for site mobilization with the contractor, PENCE, in the next six to eight weeks.

Project staff said they expect 75% completion of construction documents by mid‑August and to use that set to develop a guaranteed maximum price (GMP) with the construction manager at risk; a GMP and board action are anticipated in late September. Early site work and mobilization could begin this summer if the board approves the planned EWA at the next meeting.

Committee and staff described close coordination with city permitting staff and said budgets are “trending in the right direction” following contractor and independent cost-estimator reconciliation. No formal action was required of the board at the update beyond forthcoming approvals for early work and the GMP process.