Board approves Fairfield High School lighting project, awards low bids and cuts projected cost

At a special meeting March 24, the Fairfield Comm School District Board of Directors approved drawings, contract form and bids for the Fairfield High School Lighting Project and set the construction portion of the project at $165,000. The board also approved an overall project budget of $177,344, down from the district's original $398,000 estimate.

Board members voted to approve the architectural drawings and specifications and the form of contract before taking action on budgets and bids. The board approved Ace Electric as the low bidder for electrical work and Sticks on Stilts (ceiling work) as the successful low bidder.

One board member raised concern that bid results varied by more than 10% and that a contingency of $12,700 could be insufficient, noting that discrepancies greater than 10% can be a red flag. Staff responded that bidders are bonded, that bid bonds obligate contractors to their bids, and that the construction-manager review and bid-bond framework provided comfort that the low bidders could complete the work at their submitted prices.

District staff explained why the final project cost came in far below the original $398,000 budget: asbestos and related testing removed potential abatement costs, the design phase completed faster and cheaper than expected, and the contingency was lowered from an earlier 18–20% estimate to about 10–12% based on the revised scope and bid results.

All motions on the project — approval of drawings/specs, approval of the form of contract, setting the construction budget, awarding low bids and approving the overall project budget — carried. The board adjourned the meeting at 7:10 p.m.

Next step: With contracts approved, staff will proceed with procurement and project scheduling under the approved budgets.