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Board approves guaranteed-maximum price for J. L. Colbert junior-high addition after hearing budget increases
Summary
The board voted 6–0 to approve a guaranteed maximum price (GMP) for the John L. Colbert Junior High School addition. District staff and architects cited market pressures and scope additions — including an auxiliary gym and expanded track — as reasons the GMP exceeded earlier estimates.
The Fayetteville Public Schools Board of Education voted 6–0 to approve a guaranteed maximum price for the John L. Colbert Junior High School addition after district staff and project advisors outlined cost increases tied to market conditions and added scope.
The motion to approve the guaranteed maximum price (GMP) was made by Board member Justin Eichman and seconded by Board member Katrina Osborne; the president called the vote and the motion carried 6–0. District staff presented the GMP as $23,998,066 and described factors that raised the cost above the project’s original planning budget of roughly $21 million.
District construction staff said the GMP reflects inflationary pressure in market commodities and added scope — notably an auxiliary gym and expanding the track to a 300-meter layout — and that the project team had sought options to trim cost during schematic design. The board was told the project has bids and subcontractor interest across many trades and that site work and a grading permit are expected to begin in April with building construction beginning June 2025. A construction management team will be engaged to support pricing and schedule oversight.
The board packet and presentation identified a guaranteed maximum price that includes the bulk of construction costs and most fixed fees; district staff said larger equipment purchases such as major weight-training machines would be procured by the athletics department separately. Project presenters said they would continue to work with the construction manager and architects to contain costs and seek savings where possible.
Why it matters: The vote lets the district proceed from design into construction activity for a major junior-high expansion; the board approved the GMP despite the project’s cost exceeding earlier projections.
The board approved the GMP as presented and asked staff and project advisors to continue efforts to keep the project on budget and on schedule.
