Board approves $521,146 early work package for Seven Oak Middle School gym seismic upgrade; members discussed budget gap

The Lebanon Community School District Board approved an early work package amendment to GBC Construction for the Seven Oak Middle School gym seismic upgrade, authorizing early‑work tasks — including hazardous‑materials abatement and initial trade work — in an amount not to exceed $521,146.

District staff told the board the district previously approved pre‑construction design services (transcript contains a garbled figure for that earlier approval) and that the early work package would allow hazardous‑materials abatement to start while the district continues to refine the full guaranteed maximum price (GMP). Staff described the staged approach: design and early work packages now, followed by the larger construction GMP to be presented later.

During discussion board members pressed staff on the overall budget. Staff said the design plus the early‑work components discussed represented roughly $564,554 and referenced a grand total GMP in the neighborhood of $1.9 million; they also said the district was approximately $400,000 short of the currently estimated total. Staff cited the state seismic grant (approximately $2.49 million referenced in the discussion) as the principal funding source for achieving a seismic level‑4 facility and said the engineering specifications were coordinated with the state's engineering team. Board members asked for ongoing updates on value‑engineering steps and how the $400,000 shortfall would be resolved.

A motion to award the early work package to GBC Construction was moved and seconded; the board approved the motion by voice vote. Staff said they will return with additional information on the overall GMP and funding options when it becomes available.