School board approves $11.09 million GMP addendum for Giles County High, moves $5 million between funds

The Giles County School Board voted to approve a guaranteed maximum price addendum for the Giles County High School renovation and to transfer $5,000,000 between school funds to cover remaining work and kick off bidding for a middle-school project. The approvals came during a special-called meeting in the Central Office Boardroom in early June.

Board leadership introduced the GMP addendum, saying Brinley Construction would act as the construction manager at risk. "The guaranteed maximum price for Giles County High's deal is $11,086,502.50," a construction representative told the board. The representative said that figure represents the most the district would pay unless later change orders are approved.

District and contractor speakers told the board the GMP increased from earlier estimates after design clarifications and many requests for information (RFIs). One presenter said the project had generated roughly "46" electrical RFIs and that additional domestic water work was added after crews found deteriorated pipes. Finance staff signaled concern about timing: a finance representative told the board an invoice on file differed from earlier figures and warned that approving and documenting the guaranteed maximum price before work is finalized is important for audit compliance.

"If this had went the way direction it was going and we had an audit issue, it could result in losing funding," the finance representative said, urging care to keep the district compliant. Construction-side speakers responded that the contract had been executed for preconstruction services and that establishing the GMP now allows the district to obtain bonds and complete the contract.

After public discussion among board members, contractors and finance staff, a motion to approve the GMP addendum was made and seconded. The board approved the addendum by voice vote. The chair said acceptance of the addendum set the project's new budget at $11,086,502.50.

Following the GMP vote, the board considered an intra-district budget transfer to fund remaining work at Johnson County High School and begin bidding Bridgeforth Middle School projects. Dr. Beard told the board the district proposed to "move $5,000,000 from our 1 41 general purpose school budget" to cover the work and provide a modest contingency for upcoming bids. Discussion included estimates of year-end fund balance and the need to present the transfer to the county commission for final approval.

A motion to transfer the funds was made, seconded and approved by voice vote. Board members said the transfer will be submitted to the county commission at its next meeting for concurrence. Board members also approved several faster-turnaround items on the agenda: the district's consolidated fiscal-year application for IDEA and ESEA federal funds, and the selection of a VPK curriculum, both required for state deadlines.

The board recorded no roll-call vote counts on these items; approvals were taken by voice vote and recorded in the meeting minutes as passed. The board closed the special-called meeting after listing upcoming meeting dates.

What happens next: The chair said the fund transfer and amended budget will go to the county commission for approval; the district staff will proceed with bonding and bidding steps tied to the newly approved GMP and the Bridgeforth Middle School procurement process.