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Board weighs real‑estate agent contract, contractor prequalification and school construction cost increases
Summary
The board reviewed a commission‑based real‑estate services contract to market and acquire sites, deferred adding full documentation pending procurement score sheets, and probed rising costs on major construction projects — notably a Jean Ribault amendment where earlier $58M estimates rose toward $120M and staff described adaptive construction constraints.
The Duval County School Board on Tuesday discussed several agenda items tied to the district’s capital program: a proposed real‑estate services agreement, additions to a prequalified contractor pool and cost changes on large school projects.
Superintendent Vernier described a proposal for a real‑estate firm to act as the district’s agent for buying, selling and exchanging school properties. The company would be paid via commissions on sales or purchases (staff cited typical commissions: 3.4% for purchases, up to 6% for sales). Vernier said any sale would still require the board to declare property surplus and approve final agreements; he emphasized the district’s priority of obtaining fair market value and avoiding blight in neighborhoods after disposition.
Board members asked for the procurement rank‑score sheets and the names of other proposers; staff agreed to post that documentation and provide the scoring used in the RFQ/RFP process.
Separately, the board reviewed construction reporting and a disputed line item that listed a $30M "original contract" under a bidirectional‑antenna note. Staff clarified the $30M figure was the guaranteed maximum price for the full Rutledge Pearson school rebuild, not the antenna alone, and that the bi‑directional radio system itself typically costs in the low six figures. Members asked for greater line‑item clarity in future change‑order reports.
On Jean Ribault High School staff said the project moved from earlier budget projections (~$58M) to a larger current total (approx. $120M). Vernier and project staff noted adaptive construction constraints, required retention or reuse of existing structures, and both credits and adjustments in procurement that have produced $14.91M in identified cost reductions; staff expect to report final accounts when contractors are paid out and to bring detailed, itemized additions to the board for review.
No formal votes were taken; staff promised additional documentation (rank score sheets, change‑order detail and itemized cost breakdowns) and scheduled further workshop follow‑ups.
