Shawnee Heights superintendent outlines bond timeline, CMAR hiring and capital-outlay steps

At the Nov. 3 meeting the superintendent updated the Shawnee Heights Board on capital-outlay planning and the district’s bond timeline, saying the district will interview construction firms in early December and expects to have a construction manager at-risk (CMAR) on board before winter break.

The superintendent said RFQs for construction were due the prior Friday and that district staff narrowed the field and will interview finalists in early December. "We will be interviewing construction companies here in early December, and so we will get somebody on board here before winter break," the superintendent said.

On the bond schedule, the superintendent outlined several near-term steps: a Dec. 15 board meeting is scheduled to include a resolution to authorize the new bonds and a resolution to initiate early payoff of the district’s 2012 bonds; the board will seek a bond rating and adopt a resolution to lock in an interest rate in January, followed by a Feb. 19 closing to begin using funds for projects.

The superintendent said the district is working with counsel (Tucker) to ensure statutory requirements for hiring a CMAR are followed and that a cross-section of board members will sit in on contractor interviews. Board members volunteered and the superintendent named three board members who will participate in the selection process.

The presentation provided a clear near-term schedule for board action on bond authorization and for selecting construction partners; the board will see related resolutions at upcoming meetings.