Trustees debate $10,132.48 change order for West Park Elementary; payment responsibility disputed

The board reviewed a change order for Medallia (listed in the agenda) related to the SKUST construction project at West Park Elementary School that showed a total change amount of $10,132.48 for alternative scope work, including removal of landscaping and fencing in a storm‑drain conflict area.

A trustee questioned why the contractor had not identified the fence and brush during a site visit and argued the work appeared to have been within the contractor’s scope. “They had to remove all these items and this brush in order to do their job,” a trustee said during discussion. Other trustees said they wanted to know who missed the issue during planning and whether the architect, contractor or district should bear the cost.

One trustee moved to not approve payment of the change order; another trustee seconded. The transcript records debate, a subsequent abstention and disagreement among trustees over whether to pay for work already completed, but the meeting record in the transcript is not explicit about the final tally or whether the district ultimately paid the change order.

Trustees said they will prevent similar disputes by ensuring future construction work does not proceed until trustees approve scope and cost changes. The item record notes the work arose from a conflict between a storm drain and existing landscaping/fencing and that the change order affects the West Park pre‑K/TK classroom project.