District narrows team for 2025 bond: French named architect; construction-manager interviews held

District staff updated the board that planning for the 2025 capital bond project is advancing: French has been selected as the architect and engineering firm, Plant Moran/RealPoint will serve as the district's owner's representative, and three firms were interviewed to be the construction manager/general contractor.

"So far, our designated owner's representative on the project ... is Mister Steiner ... with Plant Moran RealPoint," staff said. Plant Moran staff described the three construction-manager candidates they brought to interviews: Christman (the firm's Christman team previously worked for the district on the 2021 bond), Granger and Rockford.

Mr. Steiner (Plant Moran/RealPoint) summarized the interview impressions: all three firms are experienced in school construction and capable of handling the project, but they showed differing approaches to project staffing and preconstruction estimation. He said references will be checked and the advisory committee will reconvene to provide input before a final selection.

Staff also said French will bring on a mechanical and electrical engineering partner named Ignite (spelled I-G-N-Y-T-E in the packet) to support the design work.

The district reported that advisory-committee members, including board members and a community representative, attended the contractor interviews. Staff said they hope to make a construction-manager selection in September but that timing could slip into October as advisory meetings resume and reference checks conclude.

Why this matters: choosing an architect, owner's representative and construction manager sets the team that will design and build the district's next capital program; board members said they want to vet references and hear the advisory committee before a final selection is made.