Huron board approves construction manager and architect contracts to replace middle school gym floor

The Huron Board of Education on April 13 approved a plan to move forward with replacement of the middle school gym wood floor after board members and staff reported renewed buckling and heaving following last summer’s roof leak.

Chairman Van Berkum presented staff recommendations and the board voted to accept a contract with Pitts Design and Build to serve as construction manager at risk, carrying a 4% fee plus $1,100 for pre-construction services; the motion passed 4–1. The board separately approved a $25,440 contract with JLG for architectural services to prepare plans and bid documents for the project.

Board discussion centered on repeated movement of the floor despite prior drying efforts, a roughly 2-by-2-foot test cut near an entry that revealed subfloor conditions, visible undulations and soft spots under the bleachers, and hardware for volleyball nets that no longer sits flush — a potential tripping hazard. Staff and board members noted uncertainty about whether moisture is coming from the slab, a failing subbase, or remaining moisture in the floor system and emphasized the need to investigate concrete and subbase conditions before final installation.

Kelly Christopherson, the district’s business manager, said earlier estimates and the district’s procurement rules shaped the decision. He explained that public procurement in South Dakota generally requires architects and engineers once a project exceeds $100,000 and outlined two common approaches: an architect-led lump-sum contract or using a construction manager who coordinates with the architect and breaks the work into multiple bid packages. Pitts will prepare bid packages and manage subcontractor selection; JLG will produce the plans and project manual used for bidding.

Board members expressed concern about potential concrete repair, mold from sub-slab moisture, and the operational impact if the gym had to be closed. One board member described seeing heaving and soft spots during a site inspection and said the gym is used throughout the day for PE, assemblies and practices. The district reported an earlier contractor estimate for a full wood-floor replacement of $230,000.

The board also discussed budget protections: under the construction-manager-at-risk arrangement, Pitts carries the subcontractor risk and presents recommended bid packages to the board before contracts are finalized. The district said both Pitts and JLG indicated they would honor the prices discussed at earlier meetings.

Next steps include investigative work under the floor to determine concrete and subbase conditions, completion of architectural plans and bid documents, and advertised bidding per South Dakota procurement rules. The board voted to enter executive session later in the meeting for contract negotiations; no further public action was taken that night.