Board approves $68.2 million guaranteed maximum price for Tom C. Clark High School fine-arts replacement

The board approved a guaranteed maximum price (GMP) of $68,219,494 for the Tom C. Clark High School fine-arts replacement project, part of the district's 2022 bond program.

Facilities staff said the GMP includes a base bid for a new fine-arts building attached to the campus and alternates for critical infrastructure work: replacement of two failing chillers and a main electrical switchboard that staff said is obsolete and difficult to service. The construction manager at risk assisted in preconstruction services and bid solicitation; district staff said the award came after multiple contractor bids and review.

Facilities staff acknowledged the amount came in higher than originally anticipated and said the team will explore value-engineering opportunities and programmatic adjustments (for example, reconsidering orchestra pits or other nonessential scope items) to bring costs closer to the approved budget. Representatives from the construction manager at risk and the architect of record were present to answer technical questions.

The motion to approve the GMP was moved and seconded in open session and passed by voice vote; the motion language in the minutes authorized the district to proceed under the GMP as presented. The board did not provide a roll-call tally in the public record at the meeting; staff said details will be included in the contract documents.

Ending: Staff said the team will continue to refine construction documents and return with further program details and budget reconciliations as the project moves into construction.