The cost to build the school on Central Parkway with all of its amenities, including a stadium and furnishings, is estimated to be $96 million, said Superintendent Dale Hansen. To avoid running out of money, district officials are looking for creative ways to cut costs by about $4 million.
“We feel we can adjust the budget and cut some things out to make this project happen,” he said.
At a special meeting of the Lammersville Unified board on Wednesday, Aug. 29, Hansen told board members that he had looked at changing the proposed heating and air-conditioning units. He said the new units the district was considering, which construction documents identified as McQuay Air Handling, would cost $650,144 less.
Hansen said that he planned to visit a Sacramento school to see if the units were quiet enough for a school setting and that he would approve the change only if he could be sure it would work out.
“I can’t jeopardize teaching stations if it’s too loud,” he said.
According to construction documents, another possible cost-saving measure is the elimination of acoustical decking in one of the buildings, which would cost $165,500.
“There are hundreds of areas we’re looking at to save money,” Hansen said. “Looking at all options.”
During the special meeting Wednesday, trustees voted to approve a funding package of $41,961,872 for Turner Construction, which is overseeing the high school construction.
Hansen said Turner officials have been seeking bids from subcontractors. He said the process has been competitive, with eight companies initially bidding for the masonry and steel contracts and six applying to handle roofing.
Before it can wrap up the last phase of the school, Lammersville Unified will need $32 million in matching funds promised by the state, Hansen said.
“The theater and some more classrooms and a library and a stadium are all in the future,” he said. “We qualified for the state match, but not sure when state will provide it.”
The first construction phase, which has begun, involves the installation of all of the underground utilities, storm drains and sewer lines.
On Thursday, Aug. 30,
Hansen said he gave Turner Construction officials the green light to begin the second phase. Phase two will be the construction of the administration building, classrooms, cafeteria and gymnasium.
After Wednesday’s special meeting, board member David Pombo said he was excited to see the project coming together financially.
“It keeps getting refined as it gets closer,” he said. “People are most excited to have a high school out there. They’re excited to see movement — many thought it was a pipe dream.”
Hansen said the project was on time and he saw no problems with meeting a June 2014 deadline to open the school
Sounds a lot like the local cheaply built tract homes brought to you by Serpa, Souza, and the like.
This will be a disaster just like the delta college campus.
When are people going to accept that the real estate hype is not coming back. No body wants to live out here, if they can afford otherwise.