Granite School Board reviews summer facilities projects, security upgrades and a Cyprus auditorium change order
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Summary
At its March 4 meeting the Granite School Board heard a district facilities update covering security vestibules, HVAC and life‑safety work, a pilot fencing project under HB 84, solar and battery work at Magda Elementary, vape‑detector rollouts and a recommended $60,000 change order for Cyprus High auditorium rigging.
The Granite School Board on March 4 received a broad update from district staff on upcoming summer construction and safety projects, including campus security vestibules, HVAC and life‑safety system replacements, a pilot elementary fencing project required under HB 84, and a recommended change order for auditorium rigging work at the new Cyprus High School.
District staff framed the briefing as a seasonal construction overview tied to school closures and state requirements. The update said work already completed includes a reengineered fire suppression system at Westlake Junior High and an almost finished security vestibule at West Kearns. Staff also said Brockbank will be converted back to a junior high and will receive a new main office, technology upgrades and an ADA‑compliant adult restroom and sick room before students return.
Staff described Cottonwood Elementary as the district’s pilot site to comply with HB 84 requirements to secure playgrounds and play fields; Granite Builders will construct the pilot in‑house to test design specifications and limit contractor change orders. Cottonwood High’s phase 2 flooring abatement and hard‑surface work is scheduled to resume when school ends. Hunter Junior and Matheson will each receive internal classroom conversions to accommodate sixth grade, and multiple playground replacements are planned at Vista, Upland and Frost over the summer.
Magda Elementary was identified as the recipient of a Rocky Mountain Power grant; district staff said they are designing photovoltaic panels and a backup battery system intended to reduce peak loads, and are coordinating exterior color schemes and energy‑efficiency upgrades including LED lighting. Staff emphasized that abatement work this summer will primarily involve floor material removal across several campuses.
On technology and safety, staff said the district will begin rolling out vape‑detector systems in secondary schools, starting at Granger High School because ceiling access and abatement considerations make it an easier pilot site. Staff also noted a broader public‑safety radio conversion in the region from 800 MHz to 700 MHz has required reassessment of in‑building antenna placements at several secondary campuses; district projects to add dispersed antenna arrays were cited for Taylorsville, Olympus Junior High and Olympus High, among others.
Multiple HVAC, fire alarm and carbon monoxide detection projects were listed for summer work at Brockbank, Bennion, Churchill, the GTI, Jim Bridger, Taylorsville and Hart Vinson. Kennedy Junior, Kearns Junior and Brockbank will receive auditorium sound upgrades done in‑house by Information Systems/AV staff, and more than 20 additional security cameras were reported installed at Kearns High.
Staff also gave construction progress reports for larger projects: Valleycrest is expected to complete by August, with office moves and remodeled itinerant spaces; Skyline’s punchlist work continues but staff said no new board action is required for that project; and Cyprus High is approaching substantial completion with elevator cabs, pool work, marquees, CTE and specialty equipment installs underway.
As part of the Cyprus update, staff presented a change order request for additional electrical work tied to the auditorium automatic rigging system. Staff said a specialty subcontractor, Oasis, originally excluded certain electrical scope and the general contractor Westland acknowledged a coordination gap; Westland credited roughly $23,000 back to the district. The change order presented to the board reduces a prior $83,000 request to $60,000 and staff recommended approval, saying the revised electrical design (central power cabinet with two conduits per motor — one for controls and one for power) was necessary for the rigging system to function as specified. Staff additionally warned that projects of this magnitude sometimes generate late‑stage change orders tied to updated equipment choices, particularly in CTE spaces, but said they did not know of any pending items that would exceed the threshold for board review.
The presentation also listed a range of smaller procurements tied to Cyprus (furniture, gym/wrestling equipment and custodial supplies) that staff characterized as purchases rather than contractual change orders. Staff said some personalization requests for the new Cyprus campus will be handled after occupancy by district crews when more cost‑effective.
District staff characterized the coming months as a very busy summer construction season with significant life‑safety, ADA and energy work planned; they also noted the need to balance in‑house work with contractor schedules to minimize change orders and disruption.
Ending: Several board members asked questions during the briefing about locations of cameras and whether further change orders were likely; staff answered that additional minor modifications are expected but said they were not aware of any that would require formal board approval beyond the items already discussed.
