Board approves $74.96 million amendment to finish Woodland Junior High; total GMP reaches $99.65 million

The Fayetteville School District Board of Education voted to approve Contract Amendment No. 8 for the new Woodland Junior High, adding $74,963,679 to the project and raising the guaranteed maximum price (GMP) to $99,650,513.

Kelly Freeman of Connect Advisors asked the board to approve the amendment, saying the team "is asking the board for approval for contract amendment number 8 in the amount of $74,963,679" and noted the district completed an extensive value‑engineering process after early market pricing exceeded $106 million. Freeman said the group accepted 34 of 50 proposed scope reductions and that the adjustments did not reduce the project’s sustainability certifications.

Why it matters: the amendment bundles previously approved early packages and value‑engineering work into a single GMP that project leaders say preserves key sustainability and program elements while keeping the project on schedule. Superintendent Doctor Mulford and staff cautioned that pausing to redesign would likely delay the project. Mulford also reminded the board of the district’s bonding capacity and said the district can fund the work without a millage increase.

Details and context Kelly Freeman and Nabholz Construction representatives described the construction and procurement steps that produced the current GMP. Freeman said the market estimate on Sept. 12 was about $106.8 million before value engineering; after pricing and negotiated scope changes, the GMP now stands at $99,650,513. A board presentation explained that the per‑square‑foot cost came in higher than early 2024 estimates — roughly $587 per square foot compared with an earlier estimate of $450 — reflecting market increases and the district’s decision to pursue more sustainable building features.

Contract scope and technical issues Board members asked technical questions about mass‑timber exterior finishes, delegated design for cross‑laminated timber (CLT), and allowances included in the GMP. Kelly Freeman said the GMP includes an allowance for the CLT work and moisture protection based on contractor experience and that the delegated‑design phase ("model lock") will finalize connections and penetrations. Nabholz’s project executive described alternative moisture‑mitigation methods included in the price and said specific exterior finish items were treated as alternatives rather than exclusions.

Funding and schedule District staff and project consultants told trustees they had preserved sustainability certifications despite scope adjustments and that early packages already approved helped the team keep the project on schedule. The board was told the excavation and early site work already underway supported the current timeline; presenters cautioned that reworking the designs now would delay the project.

Board action A motion to approve Amendment No. 8 was made and seconded by board members; the board voted unanimously, 6–0, to approve the contract amendment.

Next steps With the GMP approved, project leaders will proceed with the remaining procurement and delegated‑design steps for CLT components and continue coordinating permits and off‑site easement details. The board will receive continued progress reports as the project advances.

(Approved motion: Contract Amendment No. 8 to the Woodland Junior High GMP, $74,963,679; outcome: approved 6–0.)