Board approves $7.05 million early site package to keep New Ramey junior high on schedule

Fayetteville — The Fayetteville School District Board of Education voted unanimously to approve a $7.05 million early site package for the New Ramey Junior High project, a move administrators said is the minimum work needed now to keep the larger construction schedule on track.

The board approved the request after a presentation from district project staff and Clark Contractors. Mr. Freeman described the package as focused on site prework — timber removal that allows reuse of material, primary and rough grading and ancillary tasks — rather than building construction. "This work primarily deals with the tree circumstances on the hillside taking care of the timber so it can be reused as well as some primary grading," Freeman said during the discussion.

District staff said the early package is intended to limit schedule risk while the full guaranteed maximum price (GMP) is finalized. Jacob Jacks of Clark Contractors answered technical questions and staff told trustees they expect a 100% construction-document set from Grafton Tull and Lake | Flato on May 8 and a vetted GMP from Clark by June 16 to present for the June meeting.

Board members who spoke supported proceeding with a smaller, tightly scoped early package rather than delaying site work until the full GMP was ready. One trustee noted the team had identified a scope intended to "minimize this initial investment, protect ourselves from the risk and yet still move ahead on a timeline that makes sense."

A motion to approve the early site package was made, seconded and approved 5–0. Trustees recorded the vote and directed staff to proceed with mobilization and contracting steps while final GMP work continues.

The approval does not constitute final authorization for the entire New Ramey project; staff said additional early packages were not expected and the full GMP will return to the board for separate approval when ready.