Architects: six of eight bond projects moving; two schools to be rebid to improve bids and grant chances

Architects and district construction managers told the Katonah-Lewisboro Board of Education on Sept. 19 that the district’s eight bond-funded projects have received State Education Department approval and that six are substantially complete, while two — Katona Elementary and John Jay High School — will be rebid to improve pricing and refine scope.

The district’s outside architect said, “all 8 projects have SED approval,” and summarized progress across sites, including completed window replacements, a new auditorium entrance and playground work at the John Jay campus. He added that permitting is finished and that most projects are moving ahead on schedule.

Why rebid: board members were told the two rebids stem from higher-than-anticipated bids and scope considerations. The architect said bids for Katona Elementary came in high largely because the original bid bundled drilling for a ground-source heat pump with the HVAC contract; the team plans to split the drilling work from the HVAC contract to lower costs. He also said the Katona scope appears to qualify for Inflation Reduction Act grant money and that adjusting bid specifications to reflect grant requirements could improve grant eligibility and lower net costs.

At John Jay High School the team is tweaking Building B’s design to retain additional self-contained classrooms before rebidding later in the year. The architect said those rebids are expected in midwinter, when the construction market may have more capacity for the work.

Budget and contingency: the project team told the board that, despite inflation and SED delays, the work that has been awarded sits within 1.5% of the budget and the district is keeping contingencies to fund alternates where possible. “The only work that’s awarded is within 1.5% of the budget,” the lead architect said, and the district is taking a cautious approach to awarding alternates.

Schedule and logistics: the construction manager said underground plumbing and foundations are complete at the Increase Miller Elementary addition and that steel fabrication is underway, with steel erection the next major milestone. Contractors are using evening second shifts (roughly 4 p.m.–12 a.m.) and occasional Saturdays now that school has resumed; the team said work will be staged to minimize student disruption.

Security and interiors: architects presented renderings of new security vestibules, libraries and a STREAM lab. Temporary construction doors and boarded windows will be replaced with finished doors and glazing; the new vestibules are intended to give security staff line-of-sight to approaching visitors. Interior millwork, casework and some HVAC hookups remain to be completed at several sites.

What’s next: the team expects Katona Elementary geothermal drilling to begin in late winter (February–March) depending on frost and ground conditions, and said the rebids for the two projects will be scheduled after repackaging and design adjustments. The district’s project website will post progress updates and photographs.

The presentation prompted board questions on timing, budgets and sequencing; the board heard those answers before returning to regular agenda business.