Board presses to speed West Grant gym, recommends naming construction manager by Dec. 15

Board members debated how to move long‑delayed West Grant High School facility projects forward and discussed whether to bundle several building repairs and renovations to capture cost savings.

Superintendent and athletic directors reported they met with Studio KLP and provided the firm with detailed program needs for the gym project. Directors suggested bundling work at West — including science lab upgrades, chillers and major plumbing repairs — to achieve economies of scale and lower unit costs.

Several directors urged appointing a construction manager and an architect at the board’s Dec. 15 meeting so procurement and design work can begin without further delay. One director said the administration should present a construction‑management contract at that meeting and recommended the incoming board president call a special vendor‑relations meeting if needed.

Board members also raised safety concerns for performance spaces, saying a Stage Hands Group representative, Bill Cockrell, had flagged unsafe stages. Directors said delays could keep students from using auditorium and performance facilities for two to three years and emphasized urgency in appointing design and construction leadership.

The board agreed staff will continue to coordinate timelines with the construction consultant and bring a contract forward for board consideration.