High-school construction nears final closeout; dual-language site clears trustee review

Erica, the project presenter, told the School Building Committee the high school is in operation and students are in the building but the final certificate of occupancy remains pending while the building official completes a final walk-through.

“We had about 2,600 items on the full punch list. We're down to 48 right now,” Erica said, summarizing the team’s progress on outstanding work and ongoing mechanical commissioning expected to finish by the end of the month.

The design and construction team is reconciling the project budget and tracking participation goals. Erica said MBE/WBE participation is currently just over 15 percent but cautioned that the final closeout percentage will be confirmed during reconciliation.

Committee members were briefed on two recent change orders and a Facilities Opportunity Initiative (FOI) addition to the contract that funds outdoor furniture for a roof terrace. The team reported an owner-contingency projection of about $613,000, not counting last-month budget shifts that were moved into construction contingency during reconciliation.

On athletics infrastructure, the committee learned the Owner-Architect-Contractor (OAC) group with Nico has started coordination for the track and field retaining wall and is ordering long-lead items such as bleachers so installation is ready at project completion.

Erica said the team submitted the 60 percent CD package for the dual-language project to RIDE, responded to RIDE’s comments after a May 7 meeting, and had received trustee approval earlier in the week — a milestone the presenter described as the last step before final RIDE approval for that project.

Schedule highlights given to the committee show AI3 targeting 100 percent CDs and final RIDE submission on June 24, public advertising of bids June 25, bids due Aug. 6, a targeted construction mobilization around Oct. 1, a targeted substantial completion in June 2028 and owner occupancy in September 2028.

The committee did not vote on a project-level policy at this update; members asked staff to circulate referenced documents so the full School Building Committee can review details that had been discussed with the construction team.