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Board given deductive change order for classroom project; members press for compensation after AC failures
Summary
The board received an informational update showing a deductive change order to the JE Dunn construction contract for a 30-classroom project. Board members and the superintendent discussed recent air-conditioning failures that closed two schools and said the district is pursuing discussions with the contractor about compensation.
The Hernando County School Board on May 20 was provided an informational item — a deductive change order (Change Order 001) to the JE Dunn Construction contract for a 30-classroom addition at Winding Waters K-8 and Weeki Wachee High School. No board action was required on the change order, which the meeting packet listed for information.
Nut graf: While the change order itself was informational, several board members used the moment to raise concerns about recent air-conditioning system failures that forced two schools to close for two days. Board members said they expected contractor accountability and the superintendent said he has scheduled a call with the company.
The item appeared on the agenda as "deductive change order 001 to the contract agreement with JE Dunn Construction Company for the 30 classroom addition" and was noted as provided for board information only. Later in the meeting, Missus Tiffany Hawkins raised the AC outages at Winding Waters and Weeki Wachee — she said the same company is responsible for work connected to the units that failed and that the district should pursue compensation for disruption and inconvenience.
Superintendent Ray Pender confirmed the company had sent him a letter and that he was scheduling a phone call to discuss the issue. "The company has sent me a letter, and I have a I'm scheduling a phone call with them to talk about that very topic soon," Pender said.
Ending: The change order was informational and no vote was required; the superintendent said he will engage the contractor about the AC failures and potential compensation and staff praised school personnel for managing student comfort and safety during the outage.
