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Board approves contractor guaranteed-maximum-price amendment for referendum projects
Summary
The Manitowoc School District board accepted a facilities committee recommendation to adopt a guaranteed maximum price amendment from CJ Schmidt, with staff and the contractor saying unused allowances would revert to referendum funds and some projects may carry into summer 2027.
The Manitowoc School District board voted to accept a recommended amendment to the guaranteed maximum price (GMP) for the district construction program as presented by CJ Schmidt's representative.
The amendment — recommended by the facilities and finance committee — documents the contractor's adjusted scope after bidding and includes exhibits enumerating allowances and potential future expenditures, the company representative said. "If those are not used throughout the summer, that'll go right back to your guys' referendum dollars for summer of '27," the CJ Schmidt representative stated.
Board members pressed for clarification about the need for an amendment when bids came in below earlier estimates. One board member asked why the amendment was needed "if it's not changing any" maximum and what the value of the change was; the chair and the contractor's representative said the amendment provides transparent, itemized documentation of what the contractor will and will not complete and clarifies allowances and possible change orders.
Officials discussed that some work identified for the summer may not be completable this season because of hazardous-material findings at certain sites — the Washington auditorium ceiling was cited as containing asbestos and lead concerns — and the district plans temporary solutions so spaces remain usable for fall classes. Staff said permanent work would be scheduled during longer breaks (for example, over the winter holiday) to avoid student disruption.
The board took the vote after discussion. Staff and the contractor emphasized that change orders would be managed through allowances and contingency so the amendment would not increase the guaranteed maximum price beyond the documented GMP for the project.
The board advanced the committee recommendation and proceeded with the GMP amendment as presented; the transcript records affirmative votes and at least one opposing voice during the roll call.
Next steps: staff will continue to manage allowances and change-order requests in coordination with the contractor and report back to the board on progress and any items that must be completed after the current summer cycle.
