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Board briefed on bond projects and electric-bus purchase; city easement offer for Nixon Road discussed
Summary
Capital staff reviewed summer construction highlights, recommended several construction managers for bond work, presented a four-bus electric purchase ($1,651,128) with an expected $800,000 EPA rebate, and outlined a city request for temporary/permanent easements on the Clegg property with compensation of $47,355.
Capital-program staff summarized summer projects across the district, recommended construction-management firms for phase-two bond work, and presented an electric-bus purchase that the district plans to move forward on while pursuing available rebates.
Jason Bing (director of capital programs) said crews closed or advanced more than 30 projects at about 20 campuses over the summer, including stormwater and paving work, rooftop and HVAC stabilization, and preliminary conduit for future EV charging infrastructure. The district reported new on-site solar arrays that, together with Skyline’s system, push the district’s in-place capacity above two megawatts.
Gilbane and district staff presented results of a construction-management RFP: seven proposals, five shortlisted, with a recommendation to contract McCarthy Smith (Farmington Hills), The Christman Company (Detroit), Brideal/Bridal Corporation (Livonia), Skillman (Portage) and Triangle Associates (Grand Rapids) on four-year assignments with optional two-year renewals. Staff said firms will be assigned to projects based on best fit and that funding will come from the capital bond program or the sinking fund.
On electrification, staff recommended buying four International SKAAEV 77-passenger electric buses through a statewide bid program at a total purchase price of $1,651,128. The district said it has been awarded an EPA Clean School Bus rebate of $800,000 contingent on an invoice/claim deadline (payment-request forms must be submitted by 2024-11-29). Trustees asked about chargers and utility coordination; staff said DTE has offered support for engineering and may offset some charger infrastructure costs and that federal/IRA incentives may be available.
The board also heard a staff presentation about a city of Ann Arbor reconstruction of Nixon Road adjacent to the district’s Clegg property. The city requested temporary and permanent easements; staff said the city offered standard compensation totaling $47,355 and argued the reconstruction would enhance student and bus-safety features, sidewalks and bus stacking opportunities.
Why it matters: The construction-management contracts and electric-bus purchase are core to the bond program and the district’s sustainability and safety goals; the EPA rebate materially lowers net purchase cost but requires timely paperwork and charger installation planning.
