District says ESSER‑funded projects near completion; board approves substantial completion items

District facilities staff told the board on Monday that multiple construction bid packages funded through ESSER and other sources are approaching final completion, but retainage payments are being held until required documentation is received for some packages.

The project manager said most work is complete, describing final punch‑list touches (paint, paging/announcements, clock systems) and explaining that one complex issue required rebuilding the fire‑alarm‑integrated paging system from the ground up. "We had to completely delete out the system in the fire alarm and rebuild it from the ground up to be able to get it to finally work," the facilities representative said, and noted the system is now functioning.

Staff reported bid pack 3 (electrical) is closed and paid, bid pack 2 has signage outstanding, and bid pack 1 is ready but retainage will remain until February 2026 when warranty/insurance matters conclude. The board was also told that Alliant provided a lighting rebate the district estimated at about $74,000 across the ESSER and SAVE projects: "Alliant actually came through with a rebate on the lighting in excess of $70,000," a staff member said.

Following the update, the board voted to approve the ESSER/SAVE monthly status report and to accept the substantial completion submission for the REW contract, allowing staff to release retainage where documentation is complete. Staff said release of other retainage items will follow as outstanding insurance or warranty paperwork is finalized.

The district will continue biweekly punch‑list meetings until final work and furniture assembly are complete and will deliver an indexed electronic O&M and warranty manual to the schools once assembled.