Board approves DLR contract amendment to redesign Benton as part of reorganization
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Summary
The St. Joseph School District approved a two-page amendment to its professional services agreement with DLR, shifting scope from a new high school to remodel work at Benton; the amendment carries an estimated DLR fee of about $37,500 on a projected $513,000 scope and passed 5–2.
The St. Joseph School District Board voted 5–2 to approve an amendment to the district's professional services agreement with architectural firm DLR that changes the scope from work on a proposed new high school to design and remodel work at Benton High School.
Administration told the board the amendment is short — intended to align DLR's contract language with the smaller remodeling scope — and estimated DLR’s fee at roughly $37,500, based on a projected total project cost of $513,000. Finance staff said the original agreement, signed November 2024, references termination and payout clauses tied to the bond process, and noted that the district remains under contract because the original bond project did not reach substantial completion.
“Their services would be an estimate of about $37,500, and that is based on a total cost of 513,000 that we anticipate that might be needed at Benton,” administration said during the discussion.
Board members pressed staff about whether approving the amendment waived the need for a new bid process or RFP. Administration replied that the contract’s language ties certain termination costs to pre-bond services and that, if the district had terminated architect services before three attempts at a bond election, the district could owe a lump sum fee calculated under the contract. Administration also told the board that to date the firm has not invoiced the district for pre-election services.
Board members also discussed options for seeking new proposals if performance concerns arise; administration said it would recommend an RFP if there were concerns about DLR’s performance. The board approved the amendment with recorded votes showing five yes and two no votes.
Next steps: administration said DLR's work will proceed to produce design documents for the planned Benton renovations and that any construction documents and bids would be returned to the board for approval before work beyond design begins.