School board authorizes interim design agreement for new Walnut Hill Elementary

The Petersburg City Public Schools Board on May 20 authorized the superintendent to negotiate and execute an interim agreement with Gilbane Building Company and Moody Nolan to begin design-phase work on a new Walnut Hill Elementary School.

The superintendent presented the recommendation as an interim agreement to initiate design activities consistent with the Public-Private Education Facilities and Infrastructure Act schedule. “It is the superintendent's recommendation that the school board authorize the superintendent or designee to negotiate and execute an interim agreement with the selected preferred proposer design build team, Gilbane Building Company slash Moody Nolan in order to initiate the design phase activities consistent with the PPEA schedule and next steps,” the superintendent said.

Board members moved and seconded the recommendation. The motion carried after the board indicated their assent during the meeting.

The item authorizes the division to begin contractual design work; the presentation named Gilbane as the selected construction partner and Moody Nolan as architect. The superintendent thanked staff and outside counsel for work on vetting the interim agreement and noted the agreement authorizes the chair to sign on the board’s behalf as needed.

The board did not discuss a dollar value for the interim design agreement at the meeting; details about contract value, schedule and milestones were not provided in the public presentation and remain to be finalized during negotiation. The superintendent said the board would be asked to return for further approvals as the design and contract documents are completed.

The board moved on to other business after the vote; next steps in the PPEA timeline and any future approvals were not specified on the record at the meeting.

The meeting record shows the item was reviewed and approved during the May 20 session with no recorded dissent.