Newark Memorial field nearly complete; project finished after change orders and overtime

District staff reported on Aug. 5 that the Newark Memorial High School track and turf project is nearing completion and will have a final punch walk on Aug. 6.

Travis Ford told the board the project was advertised in May 2024, received five bids and was awarded on June 25, 2024, to OC Jones for just over $4.4 million. The vendor delivered the field in near‑completion in time for the class of 2025 graduation, and staff said it expects to present a second change order at a future board meeting to cover unforeseen items such as an ADA step‑height adjustment and extra site work; staff estimated the pending change order at about $203,000. Compared to the December 2022 budget approval, the project is roughly 10.3% over budget.

Board members pressed staff on contingency amounts, change‑order causes and communications. Staff said first change orders covered many early items and the second change order reflects unforeseeable site conditions (restroom adjacent materials, ADA adjustments) and necessary additions such as a new gate for equipment access. Superintendent and staff recommended standing project reports during Measure O construction and regular status updates to the board so early signals on cost or schedule can be addressed.

Trustees asked about warranty coverage and ongoing maintenance; staff said warranty particulars vary by component (turf, track, installation) and that training for maintenance staff and equipment (brushes, upkeep) were part of the contract. Staff said the district used overtime to meet a tight schedule for graduation and arranged insurance coverage during the time the district accepted responsibility for the field in advance of full closeout.

Next steps: staff will finalize change order documentation and return with a final closeout and budget reconciliation at the next meeting. Board members asked staff to include a standing Measure O project update on future agendas.