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Hoke County: New high school near completion; board warned contingency could be reduced by pending change orders
Summary
District staff reported the new high school is nearing substantial completion (target end of July) and projected final completion next March; about $1 million remains in owner contingency but submitted potential change orders of roughly $625,000 could reduce that to about $321,000.
The Hoke County Board of Education heard a progress report June 9 on the new high school project and an updated financial picture that shows the building close to substantial completion but with contingency funds shrinking as change orders come in.
In a presentation with photos and walk‑through notes, the district’s project representative said exterior and interior finishes are largely finished, the gym floor and bleachers are installed, and classrooms and science labs are in the final punch‑list stage. Staff said they expect substantial completion by the end of July, a contractual final completion about 30 days later and full project close‑out in March 2027.
The presentation also included a financial update: the contractor has been paid roughly 86% of the contract, the design contingency has been exceeded, and owner contingency stands at just over 22%. "Your starting contingency was just over $2.4 million. Right now remaining the contingency is just under $1 million," the presenter said, noting about $625,000 in potential items under review that, if approved at the amounts submitted, would leave approximately $321,000 in contingency.
Board members asked for specific capacities and safety features. Staff provided rough figures for the cafeteria and gym — "right at 300 students" for the cafeteria and about 1,700 for the gym bleacher area — and agreed to provide exact plan numbers later. A board member raised a safety concern about an open seating area on the learning stairs and asked staff to get an architect’s estimate to add a railing; staff agreed to follow up.
The district emphasized there remains unencumbered funding (about $1.9 million shown on the financial slides) to address needed items, and that staff will return recommendations to the board about which remaining optional work should be completed with any leftover contingency funds. The board did not take additional action on the project at the June meeting.
Next steps: staff will provide the requested capacity figures and a cost estimate for the learning‑stair railing; the district will present formal recommendations if it proposes to use contingency funds for additional work.
