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Board authorizes staff to negotiate modular school at Fontbonne after vendor review and cost discussion
Summary
The board authorized the superintendent and CFO to negotiate and finalize an agreement with Mobile Modular for a temporary modular campus at Fontbonne; the presentation covered site selection, estimated structure cost of $1.3 million, cooperative-purchasing savings and safety plans centered on the Dunham Center.
The Clayton school board authorized staff to negotiate and execute an agreement with Mobile Modular to establish a temporary modular school campus at the Fontbonne site.
John, the district’s chief financial officer, presented the proposal and said the district is close to finalizing an access agreement with Washington University and expects to bring a lease to the board in August. He described Mobile Modular as a turnkey firm recommended by consultants (Perkins and Will) and said the district used Sourcewell cooperative purchasing to reduce rents by about $114,000. John cited a quoted structure-delivery price of $1,300,000 for the modular units and noted the district still needs to refine site-preparation costs.
John described the planned timeline: aim to finalize the lease by August, complete demolition this fall, bring modular units on-site in January and have the temporary campus ready by mid-May so teachers and families can see the facility before the next school year. He said the modular units are planned in pods (typical pod: eight classrooms plus restrooms and internal hallways), which enables students to remain inside for restroom access.
Board members questioned due diligence steps on the vendor, the scope of turnkey services (site prep, utilities, connections versus furnishings) and emergency sheltering. John said the district consulted several districts that have used Mobile Modular and reviewed references, and noted the Dunham Center would serve as the primary storm shelter; the district plans to fence the modular campus perimeter but will not fence the parking lot.
A board member moved to authorize negotiation, finalization and execution of the agreement pending resolution of outstanding scope-of-work items and legal review; the board approved the motion by voice vote (ayes recorded, no opposition announced).
Next steps: staff will continue refining site-prep scopes and legal reviews and return with a lease for board consideration in August.
Sources: Presentation and Q&A with John, the district CFO; board motion and voice vote.
