Board approves CHA as construction manager for high school renovation, authorizes $273,000 preconstruction fee and notes $1,455,000 construction-phase amount

The Wallingford-Swarthmore School District Board of School Directors on Sept. 29 voted 8-0 to approve a contract with CHA as construction manager for the planned high school renovation, authorizing an immediate $273,000 preconstruction phase and recording a $1,455,000 construction-phase fee that the board said must return for later approval before any construction work begins.

Superintendent Dr. Johnson told the board the district issued an RFP in July, received six responses, interviewed four firms and identified CHA as the finalist. ‘‘With approval tonight, [CHA] would jump in and help us with our selection of the architect,’’ Dr. Johnson said. ‘‘They would begin with us right away’’ on preconstruction tasks, including assessments of mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems.

Dr. Johnson described the construction manager’s everyday role: ‘‘Think about the construction manager as the person who’s our eyes and ears. When we begin construction, we will have a representative from the selected construction management firm…