Board approves $3.6M contingency increase for Clarkston Junior High and several purchases

The Clarkston Community School District Board of Education approved multiple construction and purchasing actions tied to the district’s bond projects and operations during its meeting.

On the bond project for the new Clarkston Junior High School, the board approved a construction contingency increase of $2,765,000 plus a $150,000 increase to allowances, producing a total contract increase of $3,615,000. A board member explained that "this is an administrative move of dollars from one account in the bond to another," and that the change remains within the approved bond budget.

Separately, the board approved a construction change order totaling $124,031 to cover work by Commercial Contracting Corporation ($61,665) and Daniels Glass ($62,366). The motion to approve the change order was made, supported and carried by voice vote.

The board also approved purchasing additional EL (English learner) literacy materials for $48,482 and authorized the purchase of 120 Chromebooks for $35,100 as part of a shared services agreement. In finance business, the board approved a resolution authorizing the district’s annual school loan revolving fund application for $8,308,472.78; that resolution was adopted by roll-call vote.

During a design presentation, Mitch from GMB reviewed mural and wayfinding concepts for the new junior high, describing the theme as local wolf-habitat motifs and noting that vinyl graphics will be applied to walls to support wayfinding. Board members asked about student involvement; Mitch said a graphics company will produce the vinyl and the district can change it later if desired.

All motions related to the bond and purchases carried as presented; board members indicated the contingency increase is an internal reallocation within the bond budget rather than new borrowing.