Board Responds to Questions About High School Renovation Budget; Multiple construction change orders approved

Jason Lanier, a Lansdale resident, asked the board at the July 17 meeting why the district
ppeared to be "$41,000,000 over" the figure he said voters were shown for the North Penn High School project. Lanier cited a figure of $236,000,000 that he said included $15,000,000 for modulars and $3,000,000 to buy off-site property for transportation.

Dr. Bauer, superintendent, told the board and public that the $237,000,000 number was a basic renovation cost while the roughly $400,000,000 figure discussed previously described an "all-in" cost that included adding a ninth grade and other scope elements. "The special election was not a vote on a budget," Dr. Bauer said, summarizing the referendum question as whether voters would allow the district to borrow $97,000,000 outside of Act 1.

Bauer and other administrators said the district has explored intermediate options since the referendum failed, and that some savings were realized by choosing permanent construction in some cases instead of temporary modular classrooms and by altering plans for the transportation center so the district would not need to purchase additional property. Bauer also said the districtstimates and borrowing capacity discussions had been repeatedly described in public forums and FAQs.

On the construction side, the board approved several contract amendments and change orders related to ongoing projects. The meeting record shows the board approved: change order MC03 to GEM Mechanical Incorporated for $5,498; change order MC04 to GEM Mechanical Incorporated for $26,390.78; deduct change order DC01 to TAMCO Construction Incorporated for a $3,310 refund; an amendment to Cowen Associates Incorporated for $8,262.70; and a contract amendment to CHA Associates for $33,315 for additional geotechnical services after the Montgomery County Conservation District required further work. All motions on those items carried.

Board members and staff also discussed site work for the transportation facility: administrators said the district plans to demolish the existing transportation center and construct a new prefabricated building, which reduced the need to acquire off-site property even though there is still construction cost for the new structure.

The board and administration emphasized that the different dollar figures discussed publicly reflected different project scopes: a baseline renovation number, an "all-in" option that included ninth grade expansion and other work, and separate line items that had been shown in some presentations. The administration said it has provided cost estimates publicly and will continue to respond to questions raised at meetings and in committee discussions.

Ending: The board approved the construction-related contract amendments and directed staff to continue reporting on project scope, costs and committee follow-ups in facilities and finance forums so the public can track changes and decisions.