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CTE construction delayed by permitting; contractor submits $140,000 change order for engineered fill
Summary
District staff reported delays to the CTE construction start tied to county conservation inspections and plan recording; the general contractor submitted a $140,000 change order (about 19% of the construction contingency) to import engineered fill so work can proceed without waiting for stormwater basin excavation.
Conewago Valley School District staff told the facilities committee that work on the CTE construction project was delayed by permitting and inspection scheduling, and that the general contractor submitted a $140,000 change order to import engineered fill so the addition's foundation work can begin.
The project presenter (Nick) said the CTE project experienced a hold‑up in early July when plans could not be recorded because the township had not completed its approvals. That recording delay prevented the district from getting county conservation on site to install erosion and sediment controls. The presenter said those steps were prerequisites to major site excavation that the contractor had planned for the summer.
Because the contractor could not use soil cut from a planned stormwater basin to build the new building pad, the architect and contractor concluded the quickest solution was to import engineered fill. "There is gonna be a change order that, that Lobar, has submitted in the amount of $140,000, which is approximately 19% of your construction contingency, that will be put on for board approval next week," the presenter said.
The presenter explained that the contractor had bid the project expecting to use excavated soil from the basin as fill; the delay in basin excavation and coordination with an existing electrical line created a sequencing conflict. The contractor recommended stone import as an "insurance policy" against rainy‑season delays that could turn a work area into a mud pit and further slow foundation work.
Staff said the construction manager (identified in the transcript as Fadavia or Avia) will provide monthly reports tracking change orders, credits, and the construction contingency. The presenter noted that some change orders will be credits and that the construction manager will track whether costs should be charged to consultants if the expense results from an omission or error in the contract documents.
Board members and staff discussed logistics the change created for parking, drop‑off and job trailers. The district reported reorganizing bus and parent drop‑off circulation to a different lot (off Linden) and assigning contractors to use the West Elm lot adjacent to the build zone to reduce overlap with student areas. District communications lead Miss Minari was credited for quickly informing families and faculty about the changes.
A board member asked whether taxpayers would bear legal costs if cost disputes among the district, consultants and contractors proceeded to claims or litigation. The presenter said change orders are being covered from the construction contingency included in the act 34 process and that claims are often worked out after work proceeds; he said the team aims to avoid litigation by resolving claims later in the project.
No formal votes or approvals were recorded in the transcript; the presenter told the committee the $140,000 change order will be presented to the full board for approval the following week.
The presenter emphasized the district's goal of minimizing cost impacts and said the project's contract sets a substantial completion date (not calendar days) that is intended to prevent overall schedule slip; staff stated the substantial completion date in the contract is in August 2027.
