Banks SD 13 begins schematic design for high-school project; board told schedule, budget checks and temporary plans

Presenter outlined the start of the schematic design for the district high-school project and promised monthly updates on budget, schedule and design decisions. The board discussed committees, temporary facilities and next milestones.

The presentation described a design process split into schematic design, design development and construction documents, with cost estimates at the end of schematic design and design development. The contractor will pursue a guaranteed maximum price (GMP) after bidding and the team will use value engineering to align design choices to the available budget.

Why it matters: The board will be asked to weigh design choices against the district’s bond budget as the team moves toward demolition and construction. Early coordination on utilities, permitting and temporary facilities can influence both cost and classroom disruption.

Consultant guidance and committee roles Presenter (S4) said the project team will keep the board informed monthly and bring architects to key meetings for elevation reviews and feedback. A bond-oversight committee (about 20 people) will continue to report to the board, and a design committee—facilitated by the architect and including staff, students, community members and a board representative—will meet twice a month through May. The board discussed forming student subgroups so student voices can be heard without being overwhelmed.

Schedule and early work Demolition was described as planned for approximately December through March, with construction of a high-school addition scheduled May 2026 through August 2026 and an overall target completion around Sept. 1, 2027. The team plans to break out early utility packages (water, electrical, fiber) and some early grading so work can begin before full construction documents are complete.

Temporary facilities and site logistics The district and presenter discussed minimizing the number of portables by repurposing existing classrooms at the middle school and by leasing or buying up to two temporary classrooms for 2025 if needed. The team is also evaluating restroom capacity during South Wing demolition and may use restroom trailers or other temporary solutions. Presenter said the team will examine sanitary lines and place trailers where cost-effective.

Permits, land use and community input The schedule includes land-use reviews and county hearings for the high-school site (a Type 3 county land-use process) and a Type 2 review for the auxiliary gym; departments such as fire and engineering will comment and may impose conditions of approval requiring off-site improvements. The consultant said the team expects routine completeness reviews before hearings and will coordinate with engineers familiar with county review to avoid surprises.

Cost controls and risk The contractor will produce cost estimates at the end of schematic design, at the end of design development, and again near 50% construction documents to ensure current subcontractor pricing is used. Board members raised supply-chain and tariff risks for steel and aluminum; Presenter said the team is tracking those risks, may consider alternatives such as mass timber if appropriate, and will rely on subcontractor quotes to reflect real-world pricing.

What comes next The district will form the design committee, continue twice-monthly check-ins through May, bring architects to present schematic elevations at board meetings, and schedule land-use hearings with county staff. The team emphasized trying to reduce portables and coordinate early utility work to limit long-term costs.