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Sunset Ridge Elementary on track for August opening; board reviews change orders and authorizes warrant amendment option
Summary
District says Sunset Ridge Elementary remains on schedule to open next August; superintendent reviewed monthly change orders and the board approved amended registered‑warrant authority to preserve a possible $5M short‑term draw while noting the county already executed a $10M warrant in February.
The Ridgefield School Board on Monday received a detailed update on the Sunset Ridge Elementary construction project and voted to authorize the superintendent to sign an amended agreement with the county treasurer to preserve access to registered warrants for capital cash‑flow needs.
Superintendent Dr. Rodriguez said furniture delivery is scheduled for July, playground installation begins soon, and the district is working toward substantial completion in July with staff move‑in planned mid‑August. He said the district coordinates weekly owner‑architect‑contractor (OAC) meetings and maintains a three‑week rolling schedule to stay on track for an August school opening.
The superintendent walked the board through the project’s change order process — a monthly compilation of discrete change‑order requests (CORs) that can reflect unforeseen site conditions, code/inspection clarifications, design omissions, material substitutions or owner‑requested updates. He highlighted several credits and additions across multiple change orders (for example, credits tied to a shift in playground contracting and a credit tied to not purchasing some previously specified kitchen equipment) and emphasized staff scrutiny before approving costs.
On cumulative budget impact, the superintendent said the net difference in the total project cost to date is "just over half [a] $1,000,000" (described in the presentation as roughly a mid‑hundreds‑of‑thousands delta), and stressed efforts to capture cost savings where feasible. Board members were shown examples of items they had declined to approve to reduce expenses.
Paula McCoy, executive director of business services, summarized related finance items: the county executed a $10,000,000 registered warrant on Feb. 1 to support cash flow for the capital project; the district had planned a $5,000,000 draw on May 1 but is delaying that draw and seeking flexibility to pull a reduced amount (or delay until July 1) to lower overall interest costs as reimbursements and tax receipts come in.
The board approved resolution 2025‑2026‑010 authorizing the superintendent to sign the amended agreement with the county treasurer to preserve that flexibility; the motion carried by voice vote. The board also approved a waterline easement with PUD No. 1 of Clark County necessary for on‑site utilities and accepted roofing projects at Union Ridge Elementary and Ridgefield High School as complete.
Contractors and the owner's representative (R and C Management and Triplett Wellman) told the board they remain confident on procurement and long‑lead items (elevators, mechanical units, switchgear) and are not anticipating items that will prevent substantial completion. Project manager Derek Bahar said many long‑lead items are already procured and on site or in fabrication.
Why it matters: The construction update covered schedule, procurement risk, monthly change‑order governance and short‑term cash‑flow management tied to a voter‑approved capital levy and expected state reimbursement. The board’s vote to maintain warrant flexibility is a procedural step intended to limit interest costs while protecting the district's ability to pay contractors on schedule.
