Board selects Switchgrass as owner’s representative for Early Childhood Center project

The Geary County Schools Board of Education on Jan. 13, 2025 voted to retain Switchgrass Consulting as the owner’s representative for the district’s Early Childhood Center construction project, approving the committee’s recommendation by a 7‑0 roll call.

Carl Dearmond (operations lead) briefed the board on the project budget and outstanding allowances. He reported the guaranteed maximum price (GMP) at $30,150,000 and listed current design costs at $1,650,000. District staff said furniture, technology, security equipment and other items were budgeted separately; staff cited an owner’s contingency and allowances still available for decisions. Dearmond told the board allowances and contingency total roughly $2,500,000 and that “a little over $11,000,000” in decision items remain.

Committee recommendation and scope: The administration said the construction-management team and a three-member evaluation panel interviewed three owner’s‑rep firms and that the committee recommended Switchgrass Consulting as the preferred firm. The committee’s maximum proposed amount for Switchgrass was about $370,000; presenters said the exact workload and final cost could vary depending on how many additional allowances and change orders emerge during active construction.

Board debate: Several board members asked whether hiring an owner’s representative at this stage would still provide cost savings. Supporters said the representative would add owner-focused oversight on change orders, pay applications, schedule adherence, quality inspections, procurement timing and subcontractor coordination — functions they said could reduce long-term costs and increase accountability. Some board members expressed concern about the timing and cost given the project’s progress. Administration and multiple board members replied that the district still has significant decisions and allowances to manage and that a dedicated owner’s representative would add value across the remainder of the project.

Formal action: After a motion to make the item an action item and a board vote to do so, the board voted 7‑0 on a motion to hire Option C, Switchgrass Consulting, as the owner’s representative; the meeting record shows the motion carried unanimously.

Next steps: District staff said they will finalize contract terms, confirm the firm’s scope of work and schedule frequent project reporting. Presenters noted that project decisions yet to be made include landscaping, fencing and whether to include an optional solar field allowance, which the district priced at about $495,000 but said “does not pencil” given local energy costs. The board did not vote on the solar field at this meeting.