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Designs advance for Reynolds School; planning budget stays at $11 million
Summary
District project lead presented Reynolds School design-development plans and recommended moving to construction documents with a planning budget of $11,000,000; community-requested site improvements are estimated at about $188,000 and the team is evaluating generator options and materials to control costs.
The Monroe County School District presented updated design-development plans for the Reynolds School and recommended moving the project into the construction‑documents phase.
Project representative Mr. Laffia told the board the planning budget remains $11,000,000 and that the construction management contractor bid opening is scheduled next week. "The planning budget remains at 11,000,000," he said. He added that the design phase has produced more detailed site plans and renderings and that, unless a board member raises a significant objection, the team plans to continue to the next phase.
Mr. Laffia also summarized community-requested site improvements, which he said total about $188,000. "As you can see, it comes up to about $188,000 approximately," he said, adding that the recommendation is to proceed with those improvements in good faith to neighbors who provided input.
Board members pressed for more detail on materials and alternatives. One member asked for an "apples‑to‑apples" comparison showing the cost impact of aluminum louvers versus alternatives such as concrete up to 4 feet, citing tariff‑driven volatility. Mr. Laffia said the team will provide updated material cost information and expects that it will not delay the move to construction documents.
The project team reported two approaches to providing backup power: a permanent 20‑kilovolt inverter generator in the parking lot and a lower‑cost docking station with a transfer switch that allows a portable generator to be plugged in. Mr. Laffia characterized the larger generator as a more expensive, permanent option and the docking station as a compromise that would preserve parking and reduce upfront cost.
Board members requested the project's square footage and an alternate cost placeholder so future communications and five‑year planning figures better reflect both the district's placeholder and a realistic estimate based on square footage and per‑square‑foot costs.
Next steps: the team will continue to construction documents, provide material‑cost alternatives and square‑footage cost breakdowns, and return with a construction management recommendation after the upcoming interviews and bid opening.
