Board declares futility of bidding for Santa Maria High modernization, approves contractor change orders

District staff told trustees that demolition at Santa Maria High School uncovered unanticipated site conditions — including additional asbestos, mold, termite damage, slab variations and abandoned utilities — that required resequencing the 37-classroom modernization project and triggered significant change orders.

Staff reported change orders in the amount of $1,506,094, which exceeds 10% of the original contract price of $8,984,000. They argued that issuing a new bid package for the change-order work would further delay the project, create coordination and warranty issues, and would be unlikely to yield lower costs. For those reasons, staff recommended the board declare the futility of public bidding for the resequencing work under the statutory futility exception.

The board discussed the commonality of unforeseen conditions in modernization projects and moved to approve a resolution declaring the futility of public bidding and authorizing the district to proceed with the existing contractor to complete the resequenced work. A roll-call vote approved the resolution.

Trustees characterized the approach as the most expedient way to finish the project and return students to classrooms; staff said the completion date will be extended to July 2026 and emphasized that buildings remain open and work continues under contractor oversight.

The resolution authorizes staff to execute the necessary change orders to keep the project on an expedited timeline while preserving coordination and warranty responsibilities with the current contractor.