Board approves $8.12M budget for Vaughn Middle School amenities and demolition

Trustees unanimously approved the second-phase guaranteed maximum price (GMP2) for the Vaughn Middle School replacement project on May 12, authorizing a GMP of $7,719,126 and an owner's contingency of $400,000 for a total project phase budget of $8,119,126.

Chief Facilities Management Officer Tammy Zimmerman summarized phase two as demolition of the old building and construction of outdoor amenities and fields, with work starting in June and expected to complete by April 2027. April Anderson, assistant director for construction procurement, said Clark & Sullivan solicited bids from prequalified subcontractors and received 80 bids across scopes. She noted nearly all subcontractors were Northern Nevada firms and that only about $12,000 of the subcontract value was out of area.

Trustees thanked staff for local hiring and discussed the trade-offs of substantial facility investments in a district facing broader budget pressures. Trustee Westlake said the project will produce a high-quality facility but urged caution about overall capital spending and long-term maintenance obligations. The board approved the GMP and the district's owner-construction-manager-at-risk agreement.

What happens next: staff will finalize the contract documentation with Clark & Sullivan and proceed to demolition and site work as scheduled; trustees requested continued updates during construction.

Provenance: presentation and motion were on the public agenda as item 3.02 on May 12.