John Walls Middle School committee approves final payments and a $14,486 change order as construction nears completion

Steve Woods, chair of the John Walls Middle School Project Building Committee, called the meeting to order at 5:27 p.m. and confirmed a quorum before the group moved quickly through routine items and construction closeout business.

The committee voted unanimously to approve the minutes of its May 7 meeting and then approved three vendor payments presented by the owner's project manager. An invoice from Prior Architecture was approved as presented (amount stated during the meeting as $7,483.38), a Tri-State Materials invoice for $1,162 was approved, and a $11,000 payment to SCS, the project's commissioning agent, was also approved.

Henry, the owner’s project manager, said the project is "really in the home stretch now," reporting that Newfield (the construction manager) is finishing punch-list work and that moving dates have been set for the 23rd after the last day of school. "We have all the moving schedules and bell schedules," Henry said, noting the team is preparing for final furniture installation and closeout documentation.

Danielle, the construction manager, presented pay application No. 12 for May, totaling $280,611.86, and the committee approved it unanimously. She also presented change order PCO78—additional topsoil and lawn repair outside the original allowance—priced at $14,486. Committee members said the scope exceeded the initial allowance (noted as repair up to 5,000 square feet), and that the negotiated price was substantially lower than an earlier estimate. The committee approved the change order without objection.

On financial status, the committee was told the project has been paid out to roughly 95% of the contract and that remaining payout is approximately $750,000–$800,000 plus retainage. Danielle stated the revised final contract figure as of the meeting was $8,631,803; Henry reported the owner's contingency after the approved change order is $161,869. Members discussed state reimbursement timing—committee members described the state payment process as slow but expected to come through following required reviews.

Architect Bob Roach said the team is working with CSG and Newfield to finalize documentation, add a small number of monetized punch-list items to the certificate of substantial completion, and wrap up closeout paperwork ahead of furniture installation.

With punch-list work nearly finished, members discussed reducing the committee's meeting frequency as the project winds down; the committee agreed to shift toward meeting monthly or only as needed to address any remaining change orders. The meeting adjourned at 5:41 p.m.

Next steps noted in the meeting: final closeout paperwork and furniture installation, state reimbursement follow-up, and occasional meetings only if new change orders or issues arise.