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Board hires McCarthy & Smith for construction management of sinking-fund projects; vote 5'2
Summary
After debate about scope, timing and cost, the board approved a five-year construction management contract with McCarthy & Smith to guide sinking-fund projects, including a high-priority pool roof. Opponents voiced preference for fixed-price contracting or limiting CM use to the pool.
The Tecumseh Public Schools Board of Education voted to contract with McCarthy & Smith Inc. for construction management services over a five-year term to coordinate projects funded by the district's sinking fund.
District operations staff told the board the sinking-fund program totals about $12 million in planned projects, to be completed across multiple years. Staff and consultants recommended a team approach that pairs architects/engineers with a construction manager to handle design coordination, state plan review, permitting and contracting. Staff said the approach helps meet revised school-code requirements and supports continuity across projects. The district presented an estimated construction-manager fee of about 2.5 percent of project cost, which staff translated to approximately $304,927 over five years for the package of projects shown in the sinking-fund plan.
Board members debated whether to hire a construction manager for the entire list of projects or to pursue single-project, fixed-price contracts (some trustees favored keeping the CM limited to the most complex project, such as the pool roof). Trustees also asked about soft costs, market volatility (tariffs) and whether a general contractor or per-project approach might produce savings. Staff and trustees noted that hiring a construction manager for the full program typically yields lower percentage fees across a multi-project program versus per-project contracting where single-project fees often run higher (e.g., 6 to 8 percent).
The motion to approve McCarthy & Smith for construction management passed by roll call, five votes to two. Trustees Brooks, Miller, Davis, McGee and Martinez voted in favor; Trustees Simpson and the board chair voted no. Meeting records show another candidate withdrew their proposal prior to the vote.
Why this matters: the construction manager will work with the district's approved architects and engineers to develop schematics, design documents and RFPs and to coordinate phasing so projects can be executed with required state approvals. District leaders said a principal near-term priority is addressing the pool roof within a 2'3 year window; the CM is expected to help schedule and sequence projects to match sinking-fund cash flow.
Next steps: staff said the awarded firm will be integrated into the architect-engineer contract documents, and the team will begin schematic design and design development phases (estimated 3'6 months) before construction bidding for individual projects. The district will continue to update the board and public on schedules and costs.
