Bath County board approves high‑school change orders, LAVEC asphalt work and schedules middle‑school design meetings

The Bath County Board of Education on May 19 approved a series of construction decisions affecting the high school and the LAVEC/layback project, and scheduled special meetings and an administrative designee to expedite the Bath County Middle School renovation.

The board approved change order PR‑33 for the Bath County High School HVAC project, which yields a net credit of $120. The board also approved change order PR‑36 (gym louver infill modification) selecting the option to infill openings with on‑site brick and associated labor rather than ordering new louvers with a long lead time.

Why it matters: the louver decision trades a modest additional immediate cost for faster completion. Staff told the board the option using existing brick (option A) carries a net add in the low thousands (staff reported a net add of $3,596.50), while the alternative (ordering smaller louvers) would cost roughly $1,157.62 but has a roughly 10‑week lead time that would push closing and final inspections later into the summer.

Board members and staff said the louver discrepancy came from field conditions that differed from the existing drawings; the drawings sized three louvers larger than the openings actually built, which created two practical options: buy and wait for smaller louvers, or infill now with brick and complete the work sooner. The board voted to proceed with the brick infill option to avoid schedule delay and help close out the project.

On the LAVEC (layback) project, the board approved change order PR‑25 for owner‑directed asphalt improvements covering up to five priced areas, with a not‑to‑exceed limit of $400,000. Staff provided a detailed breakdown: the five areas combined were priced at $548,007.69; areas 1 and 2 alone total $300,005.97 and $82,003.55 respectively (combined about $383,000). Allowances for full‑depth removal and replacement in those zones are $56,036.50 (area 1) and $15,003.78 (area 2); those allowances will be credited back if the special inspector deems full replacement unnecessary.

Staff explained project‑level funding: the LAVEC project holds about $200,747.34 in remaining contingency available immediately; additional funds to reach the $400,000 limit would come from the high‑school project’s contingency (staff cited roughly $194,000 currently available there), bringing the two contingencies to roughly $395,000 if needed. Staff said they will negotiate with contractors to reduce the construction price where possible and will only draw additional funds beyond contingency after board notification.

The board tabled change order PR‑37, which would cover additional gym tuck‑pointing, because pricing was not yet verified.

On the Bath County Middle School renovation (BG25‑084), the board set special‑call meetings for schematic design and design development so the project can move faster. Staff and the board agreed to a June special meeting for schematic design (the board settled on June 19 at 2 p.m., pending calendar confirmation) and a design‑development meeting on Aug. 18 at 10 a.m. The board also authorized a board‑appointed designee: Phil Detweiler was approved to conditionally approve survey proposals prior to formal board approval; staff said they budgeted up to $40,000 for the surveys and requested the designee authority to accelerate procurement and maintain the project schedule.

What the votes were: PR‑33 (graphic panel reduction) — motion by Carla, second by Ashley; passed. PR‑36 (gym louver infill modification, option A) — motion by Carla, second by Ashley; passed. PR‑37 (tuck‑pointing addition) — motion to table by Barbara, second by Kim; passed. PR‑25 (LAVEC asphalt owner improvements, 1–5) — motion by Carla, second by Barbara; passed, not to exceed $400,000. Bath County Middle School special meetings (schematic and design development) — motion by Carla, second by Kim; passed. Phil Detweiler designated to approve survey proposals — motion by Barbara, second by Carla; passed.

Staff cautioned that some of the change‑order amounts include allowances that a special inspector must confirm (soil suitability and extent of needed full‑depth replacement). If the inspector reduces the required work, staff said the board will receive credits back against the allowances. Staff also noted the high school target for substantial completion remains around June 30, and several inspections remain before final occupancy and any use of the new gym systems for events such as graduation.

The board’s actions were unanimous where recorded; votes were taken by verbal assent with the clerk calling the roll.

The board discussion included contractor pricing impacts (staff cited supplier tariffs affecting fabrication costs for the graphic panels), schedule‑sensitive lead times for specialty materials, and the tradeoffs between immediate closure and small additional expenditures to avoid long lead‑time delays.

Looking ahead: staff will return to the board with final survey costs and verified change order amounts as the special inspector reports come in, and the board will receive any formal BG form revisions needed to reallocate high‑school contingency funds into the LAVEC project should that be required.