Board reviews $105.09M guaranteed maximum price for new high school package and considers adopting local prevailing wage rates

At the Dec. 16 East Central ISD board meeting, administrators presented work on the district’s new high school capital program and a related procurement recommendation.

Construction manager at risk (CMAR) amendment No. 1 for new high school Package 1 was summarized for trustees with an advertised guaranteed maximum price (GMP) of $105,090,816. The package scope listed by staff includes concrete, steel, athletic fields, elevators, plumbing, electrical, site utilities and related site work. Staff said the CMAR delivery method guarantees the listed scope will be completed at a cost not to exceed the GMP.

Separately, staff recommended adopting additional local prevailing wage rates for several specific trades (electrician apprentice, electrician journeyman, HVAC helpers, HVAC technicians, plumber apprentice and plumber journeyman) based on a local market survey of firms that responded. Staff asserted the locally surveyed rates are lower than a national schedule and estimated adopting the local rates could save taxpayers about $1,000,000 on the high‑school project while remaining competitive in the local market.

The transcript records a motion on the prevailing wage item: Mr. Verkhart moved and Ms. Friedecom seconded. The record in the provided transcript ends with the motion and a call for votes but does not include a roll call or tally for either the prevailing wage item or the CMAR amendment.

Because the transcript does not record final vote tallies or outcomes for these action items, this report does not assert whether either proposal passed at the Dec. 16 meeting. Staff indicated additional GMP packages will be presented at later meetings and that the procurement and wage schedules will be included in project documentation.