From the USD 448 Board of Education:
In the past year, patrons have shared with BOE members and the administration their desire to see another bond issue put forth to fund improvements to our outdoor athletic facilities and greenhouse. These patrons have also stated their willingness to participate in the effort to pass the bond. Because of these patrons, and our own commitment to supporting the opportunities of our students while being fiscally responsible, the board began the process of determining the best path forward. As a result, at the regular monthly board meeting on November 22nd, the USD 448 BOE voted to hire Hutton as a Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) to begin work toward a future bond election, targeted for May 3, 2022.
What is a CMAR? Unlike the previous two bond elections, which began by selecting our financial companies, the board has decided to take a different approach. By selecting our Construction Management firm first, we will have more specific and real-time pricing when budgeting the project. This will increase the accuracy of our estimates over previous bond project estimates, and allow us to reduce the amount that we have had to carry in the past for unknowns. It allows us to confidently answer why we made the decisions we made. Hutton will coordinate the subcontractors bidding of the project and is committed to utilizing local subcontractors when feasible. They will also act as the general contractor for the project, and are responsible for coordinating the work on site, and quality control. They will also provide top-notch pre-bond marketing and post-bond services. A primary reason we chose the CMAR delivery method is that the Construction Manager assumes the “risk” of the project. This means that once the pricing is complete, the guaranteed maximum price will be set for the project. If our project comes in under budget, they return 100% of savings to the district, but the district is not responsible for overages.
How can you get involved? In the coming months, volunteers will be needed to help share project details and answer questions. Our process will be transparent, helping the public to understand what they are voting on, how it will impact them, and the scope of the bond project. If you are interested in being a part of the community committee or helping in any other way, please contact Mr. Friesen at the District office or reach out to a board member. We are incredibly proud of the accomplishments of our students, and cannot wait to support them with safer, more modern facilities.
