Hobbs board gets update on new middle school; early work package cleared, preliminary GMPs shared

District operations staff told the Hobbs Municipal Schools Board on March 25 that the Public School Capital Outlay Council (PSCOC) approved the early work package for the new middle school and that early site work will begin shortly.

Operations staff said bid packages closed in late February and that the project team has a preliminary guaranteed maximum price (GMP) and is finalizing contract details with the selected construction managers. An early work package — primarily road and site preparation — was reported at $77,492,308, down from an earlier estimated $95 million. Separately, demolition and replacement work related to Hauser Middle School was shown as $74,462,030 "all-in," staff said.

Staff said the project team expects a firm GMP in the coming weeks and that the PSCOC subcommittee will review funding requests in early April. The operations update included routine project items — utility work, parking expansions, court painting, electrical panel inspections and campus close-outs — and noted continued coordination with design and bidding teams.

Board members asked procedural questions about counsel review and alternate bid items; staff said some alternates may shift depending on counsel and final contractor negotiations. A district timeline was presented showing the next PSFA/PSCOC review session in April and a planned on-site groundbreaking date announced later in the meeting.

No formal board action was required on the project update; staff said they would return with finalized GMPs and formal contract documents when ready.