Kiski Area SD board hears update on construction delays; independent testing and change orders planned

Kiski Area School District Superintendent Doctor Lohr told the board that the district will seek to extend the construction management services contract with PJ because the project has exceeded the contract's December 10 completion date. "There isn't an agenda item to extend the construction management services of PJ ... for additional time on this project," Doctor Lohr said, describing the extension as necessary because the project has "overwhelmed the contractually agreed upon completion date." He said the district solicitor is engaged and that legal issues will be discussed in executive session.

Doctor Lohr said the district has scheduled independent air-quality and moisture testing "independent of what was done previously" after not receiving a report from Lycarious for more than seven weeks. He described marked areas of concern and said the district accepted a proposal for further testing.

Board members asked detailed questions about change orders and field conditions. Doctor Lohr summarized some change order items: an elevator electrical disconnect needed to be enclosed in a closet following code review; an owner-requested custom caulking color required ordering a special batch of material; and additional parapet/blocking was required on a sloping roof area to meet warranty specifications. "That was for the elevator shaft ... to get the warranty for the roof," he said, describing work to add a few additional inches of materials.

On the roof's status, Doctor Lohr said there were "no active leaks in the building" at the time of the meeting and that a portion of coping installation had started; he said contractor Goodwin will attend next week to answer in-depth questions. Board members pressed whether water infiltration continued and whether particular change orders resulted from prior contractor actions or field conditions.

The agenda lists a change-order summary (item 16.2) and a construction extension item (16.1); Doctor Lohr advised members they could raise detailed questions at a scheduled walk-through and that additional contractor representatives would attend subsequent meetings. The board did not vote on the extension or change orders during the public session; Doctor Lohr said the solicitor will brief the board in executive session about related legal matters.