Construction manager chosen for school district's projects

The USD 234 Board of Education on Monday approved a contract with a construction manager and approved moving forward with an engineer to conduct design services for upcoming projects that are part of the $40.8 million school bond package voters approved in November.

The board approved a contract with Nabholz Construction Services of Olathe, a commercial construction contractor the board approved last month as construction manager at-risk for the proposed bond projects. Specifics of the contract were not available following the board meeting Monday night. USD 234 Business Manager Susan Brown said the contract will be good through the entire process to complete the projects.

Board members previously chose to use the construction manager at-risk option as the construction delivery method for bond projects, which will make district-wide improvements to all district buildings and the district stadium. Officials have said that with this type of method, the construction manager can self-perform work.

Brown said Nabholz will navigate the construction process for the district and will also help the district seek bids with subcontractors in order to obtain the best bid.

"It will give us the best project at the best price," she said. "They will subcontract all the work and bid projects. If a project cost is too high, they'll do the work themselves. That saves dollars in the long run."

Brown said Nabholz will bid projects included in the scope of the bond package, but any project that exceeds a price tag of $20,000 will have to come back to the board for approval.

Beckham said the district's attorney has reviewed the contract and it is a "standard document" that is "safe to approve."

The board also approved moving forward with MKEC Engineering, Inc., an Overland Park-based company, as the engineer for the bond projects. The firm will conduct civil site design services at each school site.

USD 234 Superintendent Bob Beckham said the work will include "consulting, advice and design" services to be done before architects for the projects being making drawings.

Brown said following Monday's board meeting the company has already started some work, which will include design of such areas as storm drain runoff and parking lots, among other planned surveys.

According to documents provided by the district, the total cost for the civil site design services at all four school buildings and the stadium is $139,400.

Brown said funds to pay the construction manager and engineer, as well as any work related to the bond projects, will come from a bond account that has been set up to pay costs related to those projects. Beckham said this is to keep bond funds separate from district funds.

"Once we start to draw funds down (for projects), they'll be placed in a separate account," he said.

In other business Monday, the board:

* Approved early retirement requests from Ken Tourtillott, high school math teacher, Joyce Davenport, high school FACS teacher, Cathy Werling, Winfield Scott first grade teacher, and Monta Jo Saker, high school media center specialist; the addition of a high school paraprofessional position for the remainder of the 2014-15 school year; a maternity leave of absence request from Amanda Johnson, Winfield Scott music teacher.

* Approved the addition of autism coverage to the district health insurance plan.

* Approved purchase of a wrestling mat for the high school using athletic gate receipt funds. Beckham said a mat that is "slightly used but in great condition" has been found and recommended the purchase. He said there is currently more than $41,000 in funds available from gate receipts at athletic events.

"And it will grow through the basketball season," he said.

He said using gate receipt funds will allow the district to not have to spend district funds.

* Heard a report from Beckham regarding a second semester enrollment count. He said a recent head count showed a total of 1,886 students in the district, which is down 17 students from the same time during the 2013-14 school year.

* Took no action following an executive session to discuss personnel matters for non-elected personnel and to discuss matters relating to employer-employee negotiations whether or not in consultation with the representative or representatives of the body or agency.

A story on other topics discussed during the board meeting will appear in a future edition of the Tribune.