County staff told commissioners that the Hamilton County Board of Education plans to use a construction manager at risk (CMAR) procurement method for the new North River Elementary School, as allowed by a memorandum of understanding the commission approved in March.

Mister Lehman, a county staff member, said the March MOU allowed alternate delivery for school construction and that the school board decided in April to use CMAR for the North River project. "So it's an alternative delivery. County general governments in the state of Tennessee cannot utilize that method, school boards can," Lehman explained, and he described the typical CMAR process: the school board will solicit and select a construction manager who will join late in design to help inform pricing and then provide a guaranteed maximum price before construction.

Commissioner Graham, who spoke in favor of the approach, said several school systems are moving to CMAR and that it can tighten budget controls and introduce additional review to find cost savings. "It helps tremendously. I mean, I think it's a great a great way to get started to utilize this going forward," Graham said.

The clerk read a resolution authorizing the Hamilton County Board of Education to utilize the CMAR procurement process and contract for the North River Elementary School project. The transcript excerpt does not record the commission taking a final vote; the exchange was presented as notice of the school board's procurement choice.