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Superintendent reports framing gaps, possible change orders as Elizabeth Forward high school work continues
Summary
Superintendent said crews found missing framing where older windows were removed, prompting plans for added steel framing and potential change orders; windows are expected mid‑July and staff said some approvals can be handled administratively but larger costs will come to the board.
Superintendent Mr. Long told the Elizabeth Forward School District board on June 18 that work on the new high school is ongoing but that contractors found unexpected framing conditions that may require additional work and change orders.
“Construction of the high school is well underway,” Mr. Long said in the district’s regular board meeting, and he described visible openings where windows once were and areas where additional studding may be necessary. A project representative told the board that “some of the anticipated framing was removed in the previous renovations that we were counting on,” and that the architect has issued instructions and an RFI for the art‑wing portion of the building.
Mr. Long and the project representative gave preliminary cost estimates: the administrative‑area framing work was “just shy of $10,000,” while work in the art wing could run roughly twice that, with the project representative estimating preliminary work “in the $30,000 to $40,000 range.” The district said those figures are early estimates and that more precise pricing will arrive with contractor change‑order proposals.
Staff said windows for the front façade are scheduled to arrive in mid‑July. Mr. Long explained the district uses a tiered approval process for construction change orders: some smaller items can be approved by the superintendent and the director of operations and subsequently ratified by the board, while larger change orders that exceed a set threshold would be brought to the full board for pre‑approval. He said the district may call a special meeting if timing requires prompt board action.
Weather and work sequencing remain scheduling pressures. The project representative said crews have lost weeks on roofing work to weather and that staff are pushing contractors to accelerate tasks such as unit‑ventilator installations, casework and finishing second‑floor wings so custodial staff can prepare classrooms for the fall.
Next steps: staff will provide formal change‑order requests and updated pricing as they become available; the board will assess any proposed changes that exceed administrative approval thresholds.
