Midland School Board asks architects to reprice high school addition after $191,900 overrun

The Midland School District Board of Directors reviewed a construction estimate for planned high school classroom and office additions that came in at $5,991,900.20, $191,900.20 above the millage-funded budget approved by voters in spring 2025. Superintendent Toby Crosby presented the figures and the board discussed options to bring the project back into budget.

The board instructed the project team from Farco and Lewis Architects to produce an "all-in" price for the classroom and office portion of the project with the new cafeteria omitted. The district asked that the representatives provide details within three weeks and scheduled a special board meeting to review the revised cost estimate.

Board members emphasized fiscal caution given the millage funding source and patrons' expectations. The agenda notes an item described as "Approval to accept bid for high school addition of classrooms with omissions," and the board's request for a reprice appears intended to support that action by removing cafeteria scope to reduce cost.

The board did not adopt a final contract at the Jan. 19 meeting; instead, it asked architects to submit revised pricing that excludes the cafeteria so trustees can consider a narrower-scope bid at a near-term special meeting. No fiscal approvals beyond the directive to reprice were recorded in the open minutes.

Next steps: the district will receive the architects' revised all-in price and convene a special board meeting within the requested three-week window to consider accepting a bid limited to classrooms and office space without the cafeteria.