District names Design West and Turner & Townsend for bond projects; sale targeted for Sept. 1
May 23, 2026 | Yakima School District, School Districts, Washington
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Jake Cooper, speaking at the Yakima School District board meeting on May 20, described the post-bond procurement process and firm selections for the district's two large projects.
"We selected Design West to design our two large projects, the Hoover and Garfield," Cooper said, and announced Turner & Townsend Heery and project manager David Bodine for project management. Cooper said the selection followed an RFQ process (nine firms submitted) and reference checks.
Cooper said the district will present a bond resolution delegating authority to sell bonds and that staff tentatively plans to sell on Sept. 1 with closing and cash available Sept. 15. He discussed procurement options (including GCCM, a hybrid general-contracting/construction-management approach) and said the district's goal is to begin construction and open Hoover by fall 2028.
On the budget front, Cooper presented the April budget status: cash balances were about $4–5 million above projection, midyear enrollment declines continue and he projected a reduction of about 475 FTE for next fiscal year; he cautioned that expenditures and timing of grant spend-downs will change cash flow as the year closes.
Board members asked about the project manager's on-site availability and other potential conflicts; Cooper said the PM will split time between on-site and remote work and emphasized reference checks and experience with similar regional projects.
No formal procurement votes were held at the meeting; Cooper said related resolutions would come forward for board approval.
"We selected Design West to design our two large projects, the Hoover and Garfield," Cooper said, and announced Turner & Townsend Heery and project manager David Bodine for project management. Cooper said the selection followed an RFQ process (nine firms submitted) and reference checks.
Cooper said the district will present a bond resolution delegating authority to sell bonds and that staff tentatively plans to sell on Sept. 1 with closing and cash available Sept. 15. He discussed procurement options (including GCCM, a hybrid general-contracting/construction-management approach) and said the district's goal is to begin construction and open Hoover by fall 2028.
On the budget front, Cooper presented the April budget status: cash balances were about $4–5 million above projection, midyear enrollment declines continue and he projected a reduction of about 475 FTE for next fiscal year; he cautioned that expenditures and timing of grant spend-downs will change cash flow as the year closes.
Board members asked about the project manager's on-site availability and other potential conflicts; Cooper said the PM will split time between on-site and remote work and emphasized reference checks and experience with similar regional projects.
No formal procurement votes were held at the meeting; Cooper said related resolutions would come forward for board approval.
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