City Schools of Decatur moves forward with Early Childhood Learning Center, board and community press for price clarity
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Summary
District officials presented the design and delivery plan for a new Early Childhood Learning Center and Decatur High expansion and said Parish Construction was selected under a construction manager‑at‑risk approach; staff reported a guaranteed maximum price (GMP) capped at $22 million and defended procurement and per‑square‑foot pricing while community members asked for further cost comparisons and transparency.
City Schools of Decatur officials told the board that the district selected Parish Construction as construction manager at risk for the new Early Childhood Learning Center (ECLC) and related Decatur High School expansion, and that the construction contract is approximately $21.5 million with a guaranteed maximum price capped at $22 million.
"The executed GMP in your packet shows that your current number is below the $22,000,000 cap," Chief Operations Officer Jarvis Adams said, adding that unused contingencies and allowances would be credited back to the district as deductive change orders. Adams described the CMAR delivery model as offering early architect‑field collaboration, a guaranteed maximum price and shared responsibility for value engineering.
The contract and price drew questions from board members and residents who had read local coverage comparing the ECLC estimate to other projects. An Ascension Program Management representative, Jeff Prime, told the board the project was bid widely: "This job was put out to market for 45 days, we received 126 bids on the project," and said the $619 per square foot estimate is in line with comparable local work including St. Thomas More (quoted at $636/sq ft in the packet).
"Ascension has independently reviewed the GMP line by line and confirmed that it is competitive and aligned with our current market conditions for similar projects," Adams added.
Board members and public commenters sought further detail: what precisely is included in the GMP, how local subcontractor capacity affected price, whether lower‑cost building types were reasonably comparable, and how the district is protecting taxpayer dollars. Adams and Ascension representatives said the GMP includes construction, general conditions, fees, contingencies and allowances and that unused contingency is returned to the district. Parish and Ascension defended the procurement process and site‑specific cost drivers, including urban site logistics and subcontractor availability.
The board did not take a formal vote on the contract during the work session; staff said the project will continue to be reviewed and that renderings and additional documentation would be made available at the board retreat and in upcoming packets. The presentation record and discussion are available in the board packet; staff also noted the district is conducting a facility condition assessment this summer and will present a 2027–2032 capital improvement plan that will set priorities across the system.
Why it matters: the ECLC is central to the district's early learning strategy and equity goals; the board sought assurance that the contract process was competitive and that pricing is market‑aligned while some community members asked for additional third‑party comparisons and explanations of scope and cost choices.
What’s next: staff will share detailed GMP documentation and renderings at the board retreat and continue procurement oversight with Ascension Program Management.
