Northstar presents change-order options for Worthy Fayette High School; district told completion could require roughly $150 million

Jack Ream of Northstar told the board the district needs a GMP change order to focus on weather-tight completion of the main building and to carry contingencies for materials and schedule. Ream said some finished-material purchases are being deferred and the change order would add approximately one year plus a half to the contract time for specific trades.

Ream said the change-order scenario included carrying allowances for material-escalation ("there's a 7 percent increase every year"), additional general-contractor time and miscellaneous on-site items needed because of the extension. He described one scenario where the timeline would move to 05/01/2029 if bond funding dictates the work schedule.

On cost, Ream and staff discussed a series of numbers while cautioning figures were contingent on bond sales. Ream described an intermediate figure of $55 million more than currently on hand for the white-zone work and at one point discussed a total-completion perspective of roughly $150 million to complete the high school, including red-zone work. Ream emphasized those figures are contingent on bond funding and that delaying work increases cost.

Board members asked for dollar-by-dollar clarifications; staff said the change order would be presented for a vote next week so trustees would have time to review contingency language and funding scenarios.

Speakers quoted in this article are taken from SEG 1263–SEG 1410 and SEG 1368–SEG 1410.