Kings Local approves $5.22 million GMP for Columbia Intermediate; PTO to fund courtyard shade

The Kings Local Board of Education on the district's work session approved a guaranteed maximum price (GMP) of $5,220,100 for the Columbia Intermediate School addition and accepted several bid alternates, including courtyard hardscape work and interior learning-area upgrades.

The board heard a presentation from Bill Bromback of HGC, the district's construction manager, who said bid results were “very positive” and “we actually were under budget, by $100,000 compared to what the design development phase was.” Bromback told the board the team received robust contractor interest — “on average 4 bids per package” and as many as eight for major trades such as masonry — which he said produced competitive pricing.

Superintendent Sears described the alternates the board approved and how the Columbia PTO will contribute $19,000 toward a sunshade for a new courtyard learning area. “That part of that alternate that we chose to accept, $19,000 of that go to a sunshade and an or for an outdoor learning space that the Columbia PTO has raised $19,000 to pay for,” Sears said. The approved alternates also include courtyard hardscape, restoration work to the existing building courtyard, alcove upgrades and a mechanical upgrade allowance for a new heat exchanger.

Bromback and district staff outlined the construction schedule: a ceremonial groundbreaking Friday and the official groundbreaking the following Monday (pending weather), with construction fencing and trailers to arrive immediately. Bromback said work will begin with removing the playground and establishing a building pad; the team is targeting a mid‑October turnover for the completed addition but warned weather could affect the schedule. “Mid October is kind of the turnover date that's slated for right now,” Bromback said. He added crews will clear snow and establish temporary gravel over the pad to continue winter work.

Board members and staff also discussed why accepting the courtyard work now matters: several elements would be difficult or impossible to add after the building is set in place. As district project staff put it, some alternates are “really hard to do later,” meaning doing the hardscape now prevents major rework.

The board also approved an addendum to an existing contract with SHP to cover additional permitting work related to High School South and work with federal permitting authorities. District staff told the board the amendment reallocates line items within the contract rather than increasing the overall total; Warren County officials waived several tap fees that staff said will allow the waived funds to be used for classroom work instead. “We worked with Warren County building department, Warren County Water, Warren County, trustees, and all those departments were nice enough to waive our tap fees, which is a pretty significant savings,” a district speaker said.

Board members voted by roll call to approve the GMP and the SHP contract amendment. Construction manager Bromback said he was encouraged by the market response and expected the high school project — planned later — to receive similarly strong bid results.

The district said the courtyard, once completed, will include a U‑shaped concrete seating area for students and a new climbing playground structure sized for fourth‑ and fifth‑grade students. District staff estimated the courtyard could comfortably hold “a couple 100” students in different configurations for outdoor instruction.

Next steps: HGC will finalize contract documents and site work will begin as weather permits; staff will return to the board with project updates during construction.