Camden County Schools staff told the Board of Education on Jan. 9 that the new high school project cleared a key funding milestone and is moving into an active procurement and early site-work phase.

At the meeting, district staff reported the U.S. Department of Agriculture had provided project approval, which the presenter called a “big hurdle.” The construction manager Heartland has issued a solicitation to prequalified bidders with a Feb. 11 target date to receive bids. If Heartland does not receive a sufficient number of bids by that date, the district said it would re-solicit bids for an additional seven days.

District staff said Heartland has already started some site preparations: crews have worked on site and a contractor trailer is scheduled to be placed on-site the coming Monday. Separately, a bathroom trailer for the softball field is expected to be delivered the next Monday or Tuesday; district staff said permitting issues had been resolved and hookups were being coordinated so the facility will be operational before practices and play begin there.

The district indicated that after bid receipt it will conduct a virtual bid opening and then begin assembling the guaranteed maximum price (GMP) package with the design-builder. The Terracon contract for special inspection and testing services—approved by the board the same evening subject to attorney review—was presented as part of required pre-construction quality assurance; staff described Terracon’s scope as geotechnical/soil testing, concrete testing and inspection, masonry inspection and testing, structural steel and welding inspections, and fireproofing/fire-stopping inspections as required by the building code.

Board members emphasized that Terracon would act as an independent third party to verify that site preparation and concrete work meet code and contract requirements rather than working for the general contractor. The district stated that funds for the inspection contract are included in the overall project budget.

District staff did not provide firm dates beyond the bid deadline and the expected trailer delivery; they said further procurement steps and a virtual bid opening will occur after Feb. 11 depending on bid results.

For residents, the near-term visible signs of progress will include on-site activity and placement of the contractor trailer and the softball field bathroom trailer.