Tolleson Union board approves construction-manager-at-risk for High School No. 8, 5-0

The Tolleson Union High School District Governing Board voted 5-0 to award the construction-manager-at-risk (CMAR) contract (CMAR No. 251927 / referred in motion as CMAR 02/1927) for High School No. 8, approving the committee’s recommendation and allowing the recommended contractor to join the preconstruction design process immediately.

Board members and district staff said timing is critical: district staff told the board that delaying the award by restarting procurement would likely push the contractor’s start into July, threaten the district’s target building turnover date and could materially increase construction costs.

Ken Hicks, the district’s chief financial officer, presented the committee’s recommendation and traced the timeline stakeholders have been following. He said approval would allow the contractor to begin preconstruction work by May 7, 2025. Hicks said the district’s architects estimate that restarting the process and delaying construction could increase costs by 10 to 25 percent, and that the range could possibly be exceeded. “Do I know it would cost more money? I know it will cost more money. Can I tell you exactly how much more? I cannot tell you exactly how much,” Hicks said.

Superintendent Geis told the board that some district campuses are already experiencing overcrowding and that the new school is intended to relieve that pressure. “We know right now that West Point is suffering,” Geis said, adding that Tolleson Union and other campuses have reported overcrowding to the district. He framed the vote as a choice between acting now to reduce further overcrowding and restarting a process that would likely increase cost and delay relief for students.

Board members questioned the magnitude and certainty of the projected cost increases. Member Miguel Ortega asked whether the board could be certain costs would rise; Hicks reiterated that the increase is an estimate based on architects’ historical data and the known risks of schedule compression and late bidding. Hicks said bringing the CMAR into schematic design reduces premium costs by allowing contractor input on design, procurement timing and value-engineering options. He also said the district might need to hire an estimator (an internal cost estimated at about $100,000) if the CMAR is not onboarded immediately.

Member Gilpin said the board should avoid creating “unnecessary pain and suffering” for students and staff and thanked the selection committee and the teachers involved in the process. Board discussion repeatedly returned to timing and stewardship of bond funds, with several members noting the district’s goal to open the new high school in August 2027 and the building turnover target of June 30 prior to move-in.

Votes at a glance CMAR 02/1927 (committee recommendation to award construction-manager-at-risk contract for High School No. 8; CMAR No. 251927): Passed, 5-0 (Doctor Luna Najera — yes; Mr. Del Palacio — yes; Mr. Ortega Romero — yes; Mr. Chapman — yes; Ms. Sun — yes). The motion text on the record was to approve the committee’s recommendation; mover/second were not specified in the transcript excerpt.

The board also reviewed district voting policy language on recording ayes, nays and abstentions after a short procedural exchange about whether members could explain their votes. Following the roll call that recorded the unanimous vote, the board president closed the special meeting and congratulated the recommended general contractor, Barry Chase.

The board and staff emphasized that approving the CMAR would allow the contractor to enter schematic design and potentially avoid schedule premiums, overtime and other added costs tied to compressed schedules. Staff repeatedly cautioned that restarting the procurement process would require written justification for audit files and could push the contractor’s onboarding into July, raising the risk of higher costs and logistical complications for opening the new campus.