Region 4 committee approves $223,020 contractor payment and $43,644 ADA sidewalk change order as JWMS security addition runs behind schedule

The Region 4 Board of Education’s John Winthrop Middle School (JWMS) Security Project Building Committee unanimously approved Orlando Annulli & Sons’ Payment Application No. 3 for $223,020 and Change Order Proposal #08 Rev1 for $43,644.92 at its Aug. 7, 2025, meeting.

QA+M architects Erin Benken and Rusty Malik told the committee that steel erection is complete and welding is underway, and that all backfill has been finished. They said Test-Con is performing inspections of the steel so framing can begin once that testing is approved. The architects reported the project is approximately two to three weeks behind the original schedule and that some finishing work — including installation of the elevator and stairway handrails — is likely to extend into the school year.

Mr. Daniels presented Orlando Annulli & Sons’ Payment Application #3, a progress payment covering work through July 2025. QA+M reviewed and cleared the invoice for payment. Finance director Robert Grissom performed a verbal roll call and the committee approved the payment following a motion by Jane Cavanaugh and a second by Jim Olson.

Mr. Daniels then reintroduced Change Order Proposal #08 Rev1, dated July 23, 2025, to remove and replace sidewalks and curbing for ADA compliance at a cost of $43,644.92. Grissom reviewed the project contingency: the original contingency was $187,805.00; the committee has authorized $62,440.78 in expenditures to date, leaving a current contingency balance of $125,364.22. Grissom identified five known potential uses of contingency funds that together total about $81,145.00 — the ADA sidewalk change order, security camera hardware (estimated $10,000), security camera installation (estimated $2,500), door access control systems (estimated up to $22,000), and a police lockbox (estimated up to $3,000). He also said the budget may be credited with roughly $15,000 in the coming weeks as unneeded line items such as legal, insurance and printing are reallocated to contingency.

After discussion the committee approved the ADA sidewalk change order on a motion by Cavanaugh, seconded by Olson, with the vote unanimous. Committee members also discussed handling optional security upgrades: if the project budget becomes constrained, the committee said it may approve the items for project reimbursement and then move them to Region 4’s operating budget if necessary. Mr. Daniels and Mr. Grissom said they would determine next week whether a special meeting on Aug. 14 is required or whether the committee should wait for its scheduled Aug. 21 meeting to take additional action.

Meeting materials attached to the record include the State grant construction budget estimate (SPN 024-0017) and the AIA Application and Certificate for Payment (Application #03), which detail contract sum to date, change order totals and retainage calculations.

There was no public comment. The meeting was adjourned at 8:57 a.m.