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Fourth high school remains on schedule; force main, traffic and fiber add complexity and cost
Summary
Staff said the fourth high school site plan is under multi‑agency review with mid‑to‑late November resubmission; the team chose a force main over a gravity sewer (easier easement and lower cost), will add two turn lanes on Route 522/Justice Drive and must run fiber to sync traffic signals — all items that could increase project costs.
Frederick County Public Schools staff told the Building & Grounds Committee on Oct. 13 that work on the fourth high school remains on schedule but will require several site fixes that could increase cost and coordination demands.
"We have received [a] site plan that has been submitted. It's in the process of receiving reviews from 8 or 9 different county agencies," Mr. Shepherd said, adding staff expect to re‑submit the plan in mid‑ to late‑November. The project team is conducting ongoing value analysis with consultants VLK and Foresight to identify cost efficiencies.
Shepherd said the team examined two sewer options — a force main and an upsized gravity sewer that would have required a private easement — and chose a force main after finding easement acquisition difficult and the force‑main alternative significantly cheaper. He told the committee the site’s flat topography increases grading and stormwater work.
Traffic‑impact work also identified the need for two turn lanes into the school from Justice Drive/Route 522. "One turn lane would not have been enough with the amount of increased traffic that is projected," Shepherd said; the additional lane may require a small corner easement to accommodate VDOT lane‑width standards. Staff also said a fiber run will be required to synchronize the Paper Mill and Justice Drive signals, and the district will be responsible for installing that connection.
On construction finishes, Shepherd presented a flooring cost comparison showing roughly 17,400 sq ft that could be polished concrete would add about $161,000 over luxury vinyl tile (LVT) for that area, and extrapolating polished concrete across approximately 56–57,000 sq ft could raise costs by about $500,000. Shepherd said LVT (about $8.65/sq ft) is less expensive to install and easier to maintain.
Staff also updated the committee on related projects: the Jordan Springs Elementary IFB was published Oct. 1 with bids due Nov. 5, and staff are hiring a clerk of the works. The committee asked staff to continue cost‑control efforts; Shepherd said the team meets weekly with consultants and is actively value‑engineering the design.
