Monongalia County Schools approves Tarkett contract to design-build University High athletic complex

The Monongalia County Board of Education on Oct. 14 approved an agreement with Tarkett Sports/Anchor Management Group to begin feasibility and design work for a new athletic complex at University High School.

The vote follows a presentation by Mike Rufo, president of Anchor Management Group at Tarkett Sports Construction, who described a three‑phase approach: feasibility (site testing and borings), full design/engineering and permitting, and construction with a guaranteed maximum price if the district proceeds to build. Rufo said the company bundles civil, architectural and construction services in‑house to reduce change orders and single out responsibility. “We’re designing it both, civil. We’re designing it architectural, and we’re building it,” Rufo said.

The feasibility phase will include soil borings and stormwater infiltration testing, Rufo said, so the district receives magnitude budgets before committing to design. He told the board that if the final construction price comes in lower than the guaranteed figure, “that money is a 100% to school districts.” The company also described options ranging from lower‑cost to higher‑end finishes, opportunities to phase work and ways to site future concession/restroom buildings and utilities to avoid later rework.

Board members asked about site conditions and potential rock or former‑mine mitigation; Tarkett representatives said early geotechnical work would identify such constraints and that the district would only advance to design after the feasibility results. Principal Miss Green of University High was invited to comment and indicated she had no questions.

Superintendent Dr. Campbell recommended approval of the Tarkett agreement, and the board voted to accept the contract as presented. The contract, as described in the packet, is scoped to allow the district to stop after any phase without obligation if it chooses not to proceed to construction.

District officials said some future project funding is expected to include local capital funds and that the agreement contemplates phasing so the master plan can be implemented over time. Tarkett said it uses local subcontractors where possible, offers internship/co‑op opportunities for students during summer projects and provides on‑site supervision during construction to ensure warranty compliance.

The board’s approval authorizes the district to begin the initial feasibility and design steps with Tarkett; any later construction phase would return to the board for further approval.

Less critical details: bidders, final budgets and any matching funds were not finalized at the meeting; the presentation emphasized options and budgeting rather than a fixed construction price.