Board approves Robinson Education Center renovation GMP and hears recap of bond projects

The Manhattan-Ogden USD 383 Board of Education on the evening of the meeting approved a guaranteed maximum price (GMP) for the Robinson Education Center renovation and accepted a vendor proposal for the facility's electronic locks and phone systems. Board members also approved a separate change order that raised the Lincoln Education Center project total, and staff gave the board a districtwide recap of completed and in-progress bond projects.

The approved Robinson GMP is $10,819,553, according to the motion approved by the board; the board separately accepted a $43,305 proposal from CBS Store and Hardware LLC for electronic locks and phone systems for Robinson. The board also approved change order number 20 for the Lincoln Education Center project, increasing that project's GMP by $166,269 to a new total of $10,296,719. All three motions passed on voice votes, each recorded as 6-0 in the meeting minutes.

Trish, a district staff member who briefed the board on facilities, described the Robinson renovation as a broad rework of the building created to simplify floor plans after asbestos abatement, replace siding, add a secured entry and updated HVAC and low-voltage systems, and to reuse existing carpeting where feasible. "We're going to replace the siding ... add a new secured entry ... upgrade all the low voltage," Trish told the board during the facilities report, describing planned work to make larger open spaces rather than rebuilding interior walls removed during abatement.

Trish said bond funds and capital outlay would cover the majority of the Robinson project; she described it as the last bond-funded renovation tied to the district's earlier capital program. Board member Christine moved the Robinson GMP approval; Carla seconded the motion. The board voted 6-0 to accept the GMP and the related vendor proposal.

During the same portion of the agenda, staff walked trustees through work completed across the district under the bond program, including new gyms and storm shelters at multiple elementaries, parking and drainage improvements, HVAC and sprinkler upgrades, new practice fields and track at Manhattan High School, and a new maintenance/warehouse facility. Staff and multiple board members noted that some projects had come in over budget because of COVID-era cost increases and supply delays, while others were completed under budget or with additional enhancements funded through capital outlay.

Board members and staff said the sequence of projects and coordination across departments — construction, maintenance, IT and teaching and learning — reduced duplicated expenses and achieved efficiencies, particularly when multiple trades worked in the same building during renovation windows.

The board's actions on Robinson, the Lincoln change order and the CBS vendor acceptance were recorded in motions during the new-business portion of the agenda and passed without roll-call dissent. The board indicated it will receive further programming and design details at upcoming meetings as the Robinson project moves into construction.

Votes at a glance: Robinson Education Center GMP (motion moved by Christine; seconded by Carla) — GMP approved 6-0; CBS Store and Hardware LLC electronic locks/phone proposal $43,305 — accepted 6-0. Lincoln Education Center change order #20 — increase $166,269 to a new GMP of $10,296,719 — approved 6-0.

Less-critical details: staff said asbestos abatement required removal of some interior walls and led designers to plan larger flexible spaces; the district intends to reuse some existing carpeting in part of the renovation. A fuller presentation on Robinson programming will follow at a future meeting, the board was told.