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Property committee reports $700,000 in savings on 9th grade academy; proposes two change orders totaling about $43,000
Summary
A forensic budget review with CB Development identified about $700,000 in savings on the 9th grade academy project to move into contingency; the committee was asked to consider a VRF electrical addition (~$6,800) and a site work change order related to unexpected groundwater (~$36,000); a decommissioned generator has a private offer of $4,400 pending solicitor guidance.
Mr. Dean briefed the William Penn School District Property Committee on multiple updates to the 9th grade academy project, including an electrical-service upgrade that requires a stronger generator, a proposed sale of the decommissioned generator, a facilities-contract procurement update, newly identified budget savings and two proposed change orders.
On electrical work and surplus equipment, Mr. Dean said the upgraded service means the existing generator at the site will be retired; the district has an offer from Lorcat Consulting of $4,400 for the generator but is awaiting solicitor guidance on whether a private sale is permitted or whether municipal sale procedures must be used. Mr. Dean said the generator is approximately 15 years old.
Mr. Dean said bids for the district’s facilities and maintenance contract were received from four companies (all of those that attended the pre-bid meeting) and that the district will score proposals next week and present results at the next board meeting or another committee meeting for consideration.
On the 9th grade academy budget, Mr. Dean said a forensic review with CB Development identified approximately $700,000 in savings, which the district plans to move into the project contingency fund. He cited examples including substituting acoustic tile ceilings for specified hard ceilings and possible design modifications to the attic sprinkler system as sources of potential savings.
Mr. Dean asked the committee to consider two change orders. He said he had omitted electrical components from a prior VRF (variable refrigerant flow) change order and that adding the electrical scope would be about $6,800. Separately, when contractors began excavating for the sanitary and stormwater tanks they hit groundwater at roughly five feet below basement elevation rather than the expected 8–10 feet; Mr. Dean said design provisions to mitigate groundwater forces will raise costs by about $36,000. Mr. Dean stated that, before these newly realized savings, the contingency was about $2.1 million and that change orders to date total roughly $302,000.
Mr. Tong agreed to coordinate a separate conversation about permit fees with the superintendent. The committee did not take final votes on the proposed change orders at this meeting; those items will be considered in a future meeting after scoring and solicitor guidance where applicable.
