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Facilities update: sinking‑fund projects, A/E and construction‑management recommendations; solar and custodial RFPs advancing
Summary
Director of operations Josh Madison updated the board on sinking‑fund priorities, recommended Whiteman for architectural/engineering services and McCarthy & Smith for construction management, and reported active RFPs for solar installations and custodial services.
Director of operations Josh Madison told the board the district is advancing multiple projects funded by the sinking fund and seeking outside procurement partners for design and construction management while pursuing solar proposals and re‑pricing custodial services.
Madison said the district has itemized about $2.7 million in large capital needs between Herrick Park and Patterson — roofs, HVAC, asbestos abatement and other major items — and that the sinking fund proceeds will be used to begin design and required state plan reviews. To deliver those projects the district issued requests for qualifications and received multiple responses: five timely A/E submittals (two were highest‑ranked) and two construction‑management respondents. Madison said Whiteman scored highest on qualifications and fee and had assembled a larger dedicated team of consultants; McCarthy & Smith scored highest for construction management with Kriegoff (a local firm) noted for its skilled‑trades work.
Madison warned that the A/E and CM work are subject to state procurement rules and that selection of firms begins a sequence of required design, RFP development, and plan review. He recommended moving forward with Whiteman as A/E and McCarthy & Smith for CM but presented those as procurement recommendations to be finalized at future meetings.
On solar, Madison said the district received five bids (one late, disqualified) and that preliminary analysis shows potential electric cost reductions up to about 20 percent for the high school and middle school; several proposals included roof replacement warranties tied to the solar PPA to reduce upfront capital charges. The board asked for further analysis on warranties, roof integration, and long‑term cost savings before committing.
On custodial services, Madison said the district brought custodial operations in‑house in 2017 and has not re‑priced the service in nearly a decade. An RFP for custodial services was open with proposals due Feb. 7; Madison said the district is evaluating whether to continue in‑house operations or contract out, and emphasized that any change would not automatically result in job losses — existing staff could be absorbed by a vendor.
Other operational items: new critical‑incident mapping and reunification maps will be posted in classrooms and shared with police and fire; the district is updating its emergency operations plan to meet Michigan’s two‑year requirement and will have drinking‑water management and filter work under the Michigan Filter First initiative completed by June 2026; and the district is installing a new clock/PA cabling system across buildings.
Ending: Madison said the procurement work will continue through committee and that staff will bring more detailed contract recommendations and cost comparisons for the board to consider before committing large capital funds.
