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Kiski Area board hears construction delays, change orders and mounting storage costs
Summary
Board members were told finishing work on the intermediate school continues but an updated contractor schedule is unreliable; staff flagged change orders (about $40,000 for electrical work and smaller items) and ongoing storage and trailer costs while work extends.
The Kiski Area School District board was told March 11 that construction on the district's intermediate school is progressing but remains behind schedule, with several change orders and ongoing storage costs adding to uncertainty.
Superintendent Dr. Lur opened the construction update, saying the classrooms in Area A are near punchlist status and that the front entry curtain wall, lighting and ceiling clouds are installed. He said flooring work remobilized and kitchen equipment is scheduled the week of April 6, but cautioned that the contractor's updated schedule "was not accurate" and staff asked the contractor to rework logic ties with the prime contractors, leaving no firm completion date.
The update included details staff said board members should know: flooring and bleacher installation remain, gym floor refinishing is delayed because moisture must drop before sanding, and many interior finishes are still underway. Staff also identified change orders: two electrical items totaling "a little over $40,000" (about $36,000 and $6,442 were cited) that stemmed in part from technology scope added after the original bid.
"Some of your technology IT equipment was not included in the original bid scope honestly at this point 3 years ago," a presenter said, explaining the district elected to treat some items as FF&E (furniture, fixtures and equipment) and to buy them later or purchase through the contractor. Staff said an initial quote for three projectors had been around $90,000, and the district and administration worked to value-engineer the systems and eliminate one projector to reduce cost.
Board members pressed whether subcontractors were being held up; staff said trades such as electrical are doing what they can but some work (for example science casework and resin tops) must precede plumbing fixtures. A board member raised the ongoing costs of stored furniture and equipment and the presence of trailers on site: "the longer the project goes on, the more we are paying in storage," the member said. Staff confirmed they are tracking those additional costs and tallying delays, storage and extra services as part of the project closeout accounting.
The board also reviewed smaller change orders, including about $6,000 to reroute wiring behind smart TVs so the visual equipment functions properly, and a more labor-intensive exterior finish decision (an Ephus finish) to raise a parapet for roof drainage. Staff said alternatives such as metal panels proved similarly costly and the Ephus option, while time-consuming, was judged worthwhile for the facade.
Why it matters: The board is preparing to vote on construction-related agenda items at its next action meeting; unresolved scheduling and the cumulative effect of change orders and carrying costs could affect final closeout figures and contingency planning.
The district said it will continue to press the contractor for an accurate schedule and to monitor additional costs; no new completion date was provided at the information meeting.
