Molalla River SD 35 board approves $78.12 million guaranteed maximum price for new middle school

The Molalla River SD 35 Board of Directors voted to approve a guaranteed maximum price (GMP) contract for the district’s new middle school, authorizing a not-to-exceed construction price of $78,119,226, including a 5% contingency and the previously approved early work amendment of roughly $2,900,000.

Board members moved and seconded the measure and the chair called the vote; Director Harris, Vice Chair Evers, Chair Walker and Director Lipps signaled aye and the chair announced the motion carried. The board’s staff presentation said the GMP is within the district’s bond program budget and is structured so the district receives savings if bid prices come in below the GMP and is not charged more if subcontractor bids exceed it.

Construction staff told the board the project is at 100% design to construction documents and that the district has submitted for building permits. The team reported some permit comments from Clackamas County and said a building permit is forecast for mid–late November; a DEQ permit described as a “1,200 c” permit was received in September. Staff also said the City of Molalla’s planning commission will hear land use findings on Oct. 15 and land-use approval could follow or be continued pending additional conditions.

The presentation noted that the early-work amendment (EWA 1) for grading and site preparation took advantage of favorable weather and produced cost savings incorporated into the GMP. Finance staff said the district will adjust its internal budget line items so the middle-school construction cost on the budget sheet matches the approved GMP.

The board did not add conditions to the approval during the meeting. Next procedural steps noted by staff include final permit clearances and ongoing refinements of construction details before full-scale building work continues.

Vote: approved (ayes recorded during meeting; no no votes or abstentions recorded).