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Oak Grove board approves $204,000 change order after soft‑soil findings on bond parking‑lot project
Summary
The Oak Grove R‑VI board approved a $204,000 change order after contractor excavation uncovered extensive soft soil that failed proof‑roll tests; board members pressed for documentation and questioned pre‑bid soil assessment and owner‑representative oversight.
The Oak Grove R‑VI School Board voted to approve Change Order No. 1 for the bond parking‑lot project after crews found large areas of soft soil that required additional undercutting and rock fill.
Administration told the board that testing and excavation identified roughly 4,351 cubic yards of material that failed a proof‑roll test and needed replacement. "We had super soft soil, 4,351 cubic yards of area that did not pass proof roll test," a district representative said during the meeting. The contractor’s change order added about $204,000 to the original $608,000 contract; the district previously held a $50,000 contingency.
Board members pressed staff and the district’s owner‑representation firm (FSG) for documentation: soil‑test results, unit‑price backup, hauling invoices and engineering review of the undercut and fill quantities. Several trustees asked why a more extensive soil assessment was not completed before bidding and whether competitive bids had accounted for soft spots. One trustee said the size of the change order — roughly 40% of the original bid — merited additional scrutiny.
District staff said FSG and on‑site representatives monitored the proof‑roll testing and reviewed change‑order pricing before sending documentation to the district. Staff invited FSG engineers to explain the work at the board’s July meeting and also offered a noon session the next day to review the field data with trustees.
The board approved the change order by voice vote. Administration said the work has already been completed and bond funds will cover the added cost; staff said approving the payment does not preclude later review of invoices or questioning of unit pricing.
Board members asked staff to bring FSG to the July meeting, provide the soil‑test and proof‑roll records, and clarify any steps the district can require in future bid packages to reduce similar surprises. The district will also review contingency thresholds and formal approval processes for large change orders.
