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Fall River board approves referendum contracts, outlines $9.85M project plan
Summary
The Fall River School District board approved consultant and contractor contracts and advanced referendum implementation tied to the $9,850,000 capital referendum, setting a user-group schedule, a February resolution to seek bonds and a construction timeline targeting spring 2025 start and 2026 completion.
The Fall River School District board approved construction-management and professional services contracts and reviewed a phased plan to spend the $9,850,000 authorized by the district’s recent capital referendum.
The board heard from Aaron Dutz of the construction manager (Bendort/Fendorp), who described the contract as a standard AIA cost‑plus construction‑management format and said "any unused contingency would go back to the district." The board also heard from PRA (architect) about schematic and design phases, user‑group meetings and a target to break ground in spring 2025 with completion aimed for 2026.
Why it matters: The contracts and schedule lay out how referendum funds will be spent for secure entry, a CTE/agriculture addition, pool and other capital maintenance. Decisions on contractor selection, bonding and design milestones will determine timing, local subcontractor participation and tax impacts tied to financing choices.
The district reported that the referendum implementation process has begun: a finance‑committee review, a user‑group meeting scheduled for Feb. 18 and facility tours Feb. 28. Administrators said they expect a resolution at the February board meeting to issue bonds and that proceeds would be available by April 1 for investing and draws.
Board members asked operational questions about bonds and bonding-related insurance for large projects. Dutz said the project requires payment and performance bonds and that, by industry practice, the contractor would provide bonding to assure project completion; he added he typically defers detailed insurance decisions to district counsel.
Trustees also asked whether the district’s construction process would enable local contractors to bid on subcontracted work; Dutz and district staff said they would try to facilitate opportunities for local firms during the bidding and procurement phases.
Formal action: The board moved and approved by voice vote the district’s PRN/owner‑representation contract and later approved a ‘‘point of beginning’’ survey/civil contract described as a small, site‑specific contract needed for construction preparation. The transcript records approval by voice (“Aye”) but does not provide a roll‑call tally of individual votes.
What’s next: Administrators will return with more refined design documents, a decision matrix for approvals, guaranteed maximum price (GMP) proposals after bidding, and routine milestone check‑ins during design development to minimize change orders.
