Web posted
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Schools seek project manager
By FOSS FARRAR
Traveler Staff Writer
reporter@arkcity.net
The Arkansas City Board of Education Monday night directed the USD 470 administration to seek proposals for a construction manager to oversee major projects in a $35.8 million school bond issue that was passed recently by district voters.
By a 7-0 vote, the local school board approved a recommendation by Superintendent of Schools Ron Ballard to seek construction management proposals.
Ballard told the board that a construction manager or managers would oversee the major construction projects approved in the bond election: a district sports complex next to Arkansas City High School, and renovations of Ark City High School, Ark City Middle School, IXL Elementary and Adams Elementary.
Smaller renovations and additions planned for other district schools could either be assigned to school personnel or these projects could be lumped together into a single oversight contract, Ballard said.
"This does not mean necessarily that we need four companies to oversee the work, but maybe one company that has four such construction supervisors," Ballard told the board.
He said that over a two-year period he had visited with four or five construction companies on the construction manager issue -- some smaller and local firms and other larger firms from large cities.
"We'd like a call for proposals for work of the scale of a sports complex; that's major work," Ballard said.
Ballard said he would seeks documentation of "significant savings" achieved by construction managers who had worked for other schools and school districts. "They are going to be able to document that they can save us money," he said.
School board member Jon Oak said saving money was fine but he wanted to be sure that who ever manages the projects would not breach the architectural and engineering standards set forth for the projects.
Board member Mike Walker said he agreed with Oak. "I'd like us to administer these funds judiciously," Walker said. "I think we ought to do this right."
Ballard agreed: "Number one, we'd do the things the way they are specified, and number two, we'd find someone who can save us money."
Board member Janet Carroll said she was concerned that the construction projects might be dragged out.
"Most often that rests with the construction company, not with the manager," Ballard responded. "But he should help prod them to keep them on schedule."
Board member Tim Harmon asked if the construction manager would be working full time at the site or would his company decide to send him out periodically.
"I think all of these," Ballard said. "I'd like to err on the side of quality in hiring a manager."
Ballard said he planned to have samples of construction management companies for the board within 30 days. Within 60 days, he planned to present final proposals to the board.
In other action, the board:
* Approved 2008 summer school at Jefferson and Roosevelt Elementary Schools, Arkansas City Middle School and Ark City High School.
* Approved recommendation by the USD 470 Head Start management team to discontinue the Udall Head Start classroom effective at the end of the current school year. The recommendation is based on information from the most current and required Community Assessment, completed in February 2008.
Based on the assessment, the Udall school district includes no families qualifying for temporary assistance for needy families and does not have the necessary percentage of families qualifying under low-income guidelines to meet recruitment criteria, Assistant Superintendent J.K. Campbell said.
There are 116 slots now for the program being filled in Ark City, Winfield, Central Burden and Udall.
"We have 17 families on the waiting list from Ark City and another 10 to 12 from Winfield on the list," Campbell said.
* Approved a one-year extension of existing contracts for Associate Superintendent Jan Voss and Assistant Superintendent J.K. Campbell. Contract length would be July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2010.
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