Board authorizes Geotex third‑party materials testing for new high school project

Superintendent Robyn Gibson told trustees that third‑party testing is required for the new high‑school construction and described Geotex’s scope, which includes soil testing, inspection of drilled shafts, verification of reinforcing and structural steel, and testing concrete and masonry. Gibson said Geotex had worked Saturdays early in the project and that overtime contributed to an increased proposal amount of $117,000, bringing the budgeted total for testing to $316,700; she said the district hopes not to use the entire contingency.

The board approved the third‑party inspection contract on a motion by Trent Murphy, seconded by Phil Erickson, with the recorded vote Caddell—Yes; Cox—Absent; Read—Yes; Erickson—Yes; Murphy—Yes; Remmele—Yes; Smith—Yes (motion carried 6–0–1). Gibson and district staff said Geotex provides deficiency reports to the contractor (Steele Freeman), which then addresses issues identified in testing.