New elementary school construction moves vertical; board approves moving one change order to consent, asks for more detail on walkway change order

District construction staff told the Bethel Park School District Board the new elementary school is now moving into vertical construction in multiple wings, that major site and utility work is wrapping up, and that interior work will begin within the month.

The presenter said steel erection is underway in the E and F wings, slabs have been poured in several ground‑floor areas and a first‑floor slab above the auxiliary gym recently poured. The presentation noted special storm‑structure conditions and deep storm piping through rock that required extended excavation. The presenter said they are producing a recovery schedule and expect to have a plan by mid‑March to make up delays.

The administration recommended two change orders to the general contractor. Change order GC15, associated with ASI #1 and described as a revision to structural drawings that required additional steel lintels, was listed as an add of $7,186. Change order GC16 was described as additional asphalt walkways from the new parking lot up to the NAMS building; the transcript does not record a total dollar amount for GC16.

Board members questioned why the district would pay for lintels that were not shown on the originally bid documents; the presenter explained the lintels were identified by the engineer during the construction document preparation and therefore required added labor and material. A board member asked whether GC15 was design cost or material and was told the $7,186 covers labor and materials for the added steel installation.

On GC16, several board members said the breakout presented was a lump sum and requested a detailed invoice showing separate costs for survey (HRG), excavation (Niswonger/Niswond? transcript spelling varies), paving (JM Paving), subcontractor markup and bonding, and weekend labor charges. One board member said they would not sign the second change order until additional detail was provided. The presenter agreed to provide a detailed breakout and noted the GC16 amount covers work on two walkways.

Following discussion, a board member moved GC15 to the consent agenda and said GC16 will remain on the agenda for next week as a voting item after the district receives the additional cost detail. No formal roll‑call vote count appears in the transcript; the motion to move GC15 to consent carried by consensus in the meeting.

The presenter also told the board the project is behind schedule by about two months and that the contractor and project manager are developing a recovery schedule; steel erection is roughly 40–50% complete with a projection to reach approximately 80% by mid‑April if current rates continue. Board members asked the presenter to confirm material pricing locks for exterior aluminum because recent market reports suggested commodity price increases.

Board members also thanked project staff for addressing resident complaints about site management and asked staff to continue coordination to minimize community disruption.