Board approves West Jordan High School remodel GMP; project budget nears $89 million with alternates
May 26, 2026 | Jordan School District, School Boards, Utah
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The Jordan School District board voted 6–1 on May 26 to approve a guaranteed maximum price (GMP) for the West Jordan High School remodel that includes several alternates the district presented to the board.
Project staff told the board that Westland Construction’s base GMP is $78,727,212. Four design alternates were offered: a five‑classroom addition (~9,000 sq ft, ~$1,494,331), media center upgrades that address ADA access (~$24,536), an auditorium catwalk and improved rigging, and a higher‑grade resilient floor option rather than the base LVT product. With alternates and associated fees the total presented to the board was roughly $88,858,933.
Board members debated the merits of the five‑classroom alternate, given shifting enrollment projections for the attendance area and the district’s longer‑range decisions about where ninth graders will attend. Dr. Daryl Robinson expressed concern about adding new permanent instructional space in an area that, by some projections, could see a declining student population; other board members stressed the design reconfiguration preserved teaching stations and the alternate delivered economy‑of‑scale value that would be much costlier if completed as a later stand‑alone project.
Finance staff said the district had budgeted $80 million for the remodel; the GMP increases expected spending and will reduce the district’s capital reserve balance. The finance team noted the reserve remains substantively large (staff mentioned a reserve roughly sufficient to build an elementary school when speaking to board members) but that dipping into reserves will reduce flexibility for other near‑term projects.
After discussion an amendment to exclude the five‑classroom alternate failed; the subsequent vote to approve the full GMP with alternates passed 6–1 (Dr. Robinson opposed). Board materials show the base bid plus alternates and fees produce the near‑$88.9 million total cited in the presentation.
What the board asked staff to do
- Finalize GMP contract language and issue notices to proceed consistent with the approved scope.
- Work with finance to detail reserve impacts and present phasing and timeline options for construction sequencing and portable classroom logistics.
Why it matters
Approving a GMP with alternates commits the district to a large capital outlay that will be financed from existing capital funds and bond proceeds as programmed. The board acknowledged tradeoffs between rebuilding versus remodeling, and elected to move forward with the remodel and alternates presented.
What comes next
Facilities staff will finalize contracting documents and return with a construction schedule, phasing recommendations and a financing update that shows reserve impacts and budget timing.
Project staff told the board that Westland Construction’s base GMP is $78,727,212. Four design alternates were offered: a five‑classroom addition (~9,000 sq ft, ~$1,494,331), media center upgrades that address ADA access (~$24,536), an auditorium catwalk and improved rigging, and a higher‑grade resilient floor option rather than the base LVT product. With alternates and associated fees the total presented to the board was roughly $88,858,933.
Board members debated the merits of the five‑classroom alternate, given shifting enrollment projections for the attendance area and the district’s longer‑range decisions about where ninth graders will attend. Dr. Daryl Robinson expressed concern about adding new permanent instructional space in an area that, by some projections, could see a declining student population; other board members stressed the design reconfiguration preserved teaching stations and the alternate delivered economy‑of‑scale value that would be much costlier if completed as a later stand‑alone project.
Finance staff said the district had budgeted $80 million for the remodel; the GMP increases expected spending and will reduce the district’s capital reserve balance. The finance team noted the reserve remains substantively large (staff mentioned a reserve roughly sufficient to build an elementary school when speaking to board members) but that dipping into reserves will reduce flexibility for other near‑term projects.
After discussion an amendment to exclude the five‑classroom alternate failed; the subsequent vote to approve the full GMP with alternates passed 6–1 (Dr. Robinson opposed). Board materials show the base bid plus alternates and fees produce the near‑$88.9 million total cited in the presentation.
What the board asked staff to do
- Finalize GMP contract language and issue notices to proceed consistent with the approved scope.
- Work with finance to detail reserve impacts and present phasing and timeline options for construction sequencing and portable classroom logistics.
Why it matters
Approving a GMP with alternates commits the district to a large capital outlay that will be financed from existing capital funds and bond proceeds as programmed. The board acknowledged tradeoffs between rebuilding versus remodeling, and elected to move forward with the remodel and alternates presented.
What comes next
Facilities staff will finalize contracting documents and return with a construction schedule, phasing recommendations and a financing update that shows reserve impacts and budget timing.
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