Board approves 2023 bond change orders; district notifies intent to use construction‑manager‑at‑risk and escrows $240,000 for Pipkin site work

The Springfield R‑XII Board of Education voted to approve change orders and agreements totaling $359,057.40 related to the district’s 2023 bond program, and staff notified the board that it intends to use the construction‑manager‑at‑risk (CMR) delivery method for upcoming projects.

Sean Dilday presented the change orders and highlighted a single line item of $240,000 that will be put in escrow to the City of Springfield for required public‑improvement work related to the Pipkin project. Dilday explained the escrow secures the city’s assurance that required right‑of‑way or public‑improvement work (for example, crosswalks or other work that affects city property) will be completed; the escrow is refundable to the district when the city accepts the completed improvements.

Dilday also notified the board per statute of the district’s intent to use CMR for upcoming projects and said two projects originally planned for a later phase could be brought forward into the current bond phase; staff will provide details to board members through small‑group briefings and return an action item to the April 29 meeting.

The recommended board action to approve the change orders and agreements was moved and seconded and carried by recorded votes (chair noted six to seven votes recorded by the meeting’s new electronic voting platform), with the chair recording the motion as approved 7-0.

Board members discussed the escrow mechanism and asked for clarification that the $240,000 is a temporary escrow deposit, not a permanent project expenditure. Staff confirmed the escrow is a refundable guarantee to the city and will be refunded after the city accepts the completed work. Dilday said the district would bring formal CMR and project‑acceleration items to the April 29 meeting for board action.