Board reclaims $4.43 million from GMP projects, redirects most to South Marion High and approves multiple capital items
Summary
District staff reported $4,433,197.73 in unused funds from several GMP construction projects; roughly $4.1 million will be directed to the South Marion High School project. The board also approved emergency chiller replacement at Westport High and amendments for several capital projects.
District staff told the board Jan. 13 that projects delivered under the construction-management guaranteed-maximum-price (GMP) delivery method produced unused funds totaling $4,433,197.73; change orders will return those dollars to the owner and staff recommended directing $4,100,503.02 of that amount to the South Marion High School project.
Why it matters: Redirecting unspent construction dollars affects capital planning and project sequencing across the district and signals an active reconciliation of construction accounts.
Key project approvals and figures presented at the meeting:
- Winding Oaks Elementary related deductive change orders (items 10.1–10.3) resulted in deductive amounts of $376,076.14, $1,444,280.86, and $2,280,146.02 respectively; staff said returned funds are being directed to South Marion High (cumulative figure provided).
- District-wide hydrophonic tanks replacement deductive amount: $30,521.80; soffit installation deductive and additive cents-level items were noted for board transparency (items totaling less than a dollar flagged for future policy discussion).
- Emergency replacement: Westport High School chilled-water unit — $548,562 (emergency piggyback contract; work to be completed by summer).
- Technology & Information Services center GMP amendment: project restart financed in part by $1,900,000 from a warehouse fund, total projected cost $10,500,000, scheduled for completion by year-end.
- Cooler/freezer additions at three schools funded by federal food-service funds: project cost $1,980,000; contractor AD Morgan; completion by Oct. 23, 2026.
- Greenway Elementary HVAC first-phase GMP: $787,578 (first phase of an estimated $7,000,000 full replacement), targeted cooler tower completion around April 27, 2026.
Board action and transparency items: The superintendent or designee had signed some change orders consistent with board policy 6345; the chair noted the board would revisit policy thresholds for publicly reporting very small change orders. Several capital items were approved by recorded voice votes (mostly 5-0), and two members recused themselves from the Osceola Middle School gym item.
What’s next: Staff will execute change orders to close financial books on completed projects, allocate returned funds to South Marion High, and continue public reporting on capital reconciliation and project timelines.
