Kiski Area SD hears construction progress, reviews $44,000 change order and two curb-replacement options

Mister Dave of the project contractor gave the Kiski Area School District board a month-by-month progress report on the intermediate school, saying Area A classrooms are painted and ceiling-gridded, Area B drywall and kitchen work are nearly complete and Area C (gym and shops) continues to advance. "Like I said, it was a good month," he told the board, noting that rooftop units are scheduled to be set next week and some windows were delayed roughly a week and a half.

The contractor described change order 12 as 10 discrete items — roofing insulation adjustments related to field conditions, custom anodized paint on two aluminum storefront doors, materials to mount decorative ceiling 'clouds,' plaster and block repairs, adjusted toilet partitions and hardware for a door left in place — that together account for roughly $44,000. "So those 10 account for that overall change order 12 and the $44,000," he said when he finished the walkthrough of the list.

Board members pressed staff about the source of the work and whether any amount could be recovered from the designer or insurance; the contractor said, for a renovation project, error-and-omission change-order values around "2%" are common and that individual claims would need to be reviewed for recoverability. The board did not approve the change order at the meeting and was told the items will be on the upcoming voting agenda.

The meeting also focused on change order 13: replacement of curb at the front-entry circle. The contractor presented two options: a targeted partial replacement (the option listed on the agenda) at about $27,270 (roughly $140 per linear foot for the hand-formed sections) and a full slip-curved replacement of the radius quoted at about $69,172 (described in discussion as roughly $70,000 covering approximately 1,000 linear feet). Board members debated whether the deeper, full replacement — which requires excavation and setting a slip-formed curb — would be preferable to retaining the existing curb (which currently sits on the asphalt and is not a deep-set curb), and asked staff to obtain a cost estimate to remove the center island and run a straight curb as a third option.

Board members emphasized timing: concrete work needs to be done while weather permits, and the contractor said some activities (e.g., slip-forming the curve) are more labor-intensive and therefore costlier. Doctor Lohr and board members directed administration to include the existing options on the Wednesday voting agenda and to return with an alternate estimate that would eliminate the island and create a straight curb if feasible.

The board will consider the change orders and any redesign estimate at its scheduled voting meeting.