Facilities director updates board on Freedom Middle consolidation; finance director details project funding and year‑to‑date expenses

Jerome Williams, director of facility support services, told the board the Freedom Middle consolidation project has tied the existing building into a new sewer system approved by the city, delivered door frames that will be stored on‑site, completed a building pad for the planned 200 wing and will soon begin footings and new water‑main connections. Williams said crews will remove older water and sewer mains to prevent future ground‑settlement issues and that some items tied to rebranding—athletic uniforms, scoreboard panels, gym‑floor refinishing and relocation or removal of a Mustang statue—will require separate funding because they are not part of the construction contract.

Williams noted some classroom technology and much of the classroom furniture would not be covered by the contractor and will be purchased separately; contingency and allowance funds exist but the superintendent and facilities leadership do not want to commit those funds early in the project. "We do have contingency money. We do have allowances. If none of that money is exhausted, then certainly we could roll some of that over to cover some of these costs," Williams said.

Finance director presented an expanded budget view and identified a total project funding line shown in the presentation as $17,000,009.96. Year‑to‑date expenses were listed as $2,049,245, an increase of $615,910 from the prior reporting period; invoices to design and construction consultants were presented and retainage amounts noted. The presentation included a breakdown into categories (design contract, construction contract, testing/inspection/commissioning) and cited specific vendor payments and retainage figures.

Board members asked clarifying questions about timing and cost containment; facilities staff said gym‑floor resurfacing was already scheduled in the district's regular summer maintenance rotation and would not be an extra cost if timed with the opening of the consolidated facility.

Next steps: site work to continue (footings, water main installation) and more detailed pricing for rebranding and classroom furnishings are expected once state‑contract vendors meet with district staff; contingency and allowance balances will be monitored before any additional commitments.