Duval County School Board members on Nov. 4 pressed district staff about the state review process used to approve changes to school buildings and about recent construction change orders that drove up project costs.

The board is seeking approval to submit a Castaldi analysis of Buildings 5 and 6 at the former Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School to the Florida Department of Education. Board members and staff discussed the implications of the state review: if the state requires retention of specific portions of older buildings, marrying old and new construction can substantially increase renovation costs.

Board members described the Castaldi recommendation as more than advisory in practice and said there are limited appeals options. One board member said, ‘‘I believe we'd be in serious trouble’’ if the district did not follow the state-required retention instructions. Staff said the district is pursuing legislative changes to create an appeals process for cases where the state’s requirements make projects financially impractical.

Construction change orders and hidden conditions

The board also reviewed change orders for a recent site renovation that added a field house and concession work not in the original scope, and uncovered unforeseen conditions in an auditorium (including core‑fill and clay piping issues). District construction staff said those conditions required additional remediation and increased project costs. A district official explained that some of the extra costs resulted from renovating existing structures rather than complete demolition.

Why it matters: when state reviewers require preservation of portions of existing buildings, districts often must retrofit or integrate older construction into new designs, which can add materially to final project budgets. Board members said greater upfront diligence and a clearer appeals process could reduce later cost overruns.

Board direction and next steps

Staff said they will continue to pursue legislative relief to add an appeal path and will provide more detailed pre‑submission diligence when projects propose keeping portions of older buildings. The board asked staff to map how the Castaldi review, real‑estate work and public sale processes overlap for specific properties so community members understand timing and availability of surplus parcels.

Ending

Board members requested follow‑up information on the Castaldi submission, the appeal options being pursued and more robust pre‑construction reviews to identify potential hidden conditions before projects proceed.