Schools gear up for construction (article by Heather Murtagh, Daily Journal)
Dozens of essential construction projects will finally begin in the San Mateo Union High School District more than a year after voters approved a $298 million bond.
Three contracts will be before the Board of Trustees tonight discussing construction management, financial planning and design services kick starting work to be done by Measure M the $298 million bond approved by voters in 2006. Work was previously put on hold when questions arose about ballooning contract expenses and a breakdown in communication. After an eight-month hiatus from construction, the board will consider the contracts to get work started during in March during spring break with a restructured schedule.
Everything needs to be done by Aug. 15 [before the school year begins],? said Superintendent David Miller. First the board will consider hiring Greystone West to oversee work to summer Measure M projects, other small projects and the projects required to close out Measure D a 2000 voter-approved bond for $137.5 million. Greystone West was selected from 12 from proposals. Eleven firms were interviewed, according to the staff report. Greystone West was one of three firms short listed, then ultimately selected as the most qualified. The company is currently overseeing the arsenic removal at Burlingame High School. This contract would be an extension of the work already being done in the district, said Liz McManus, associate superintendent of business services.
The contract information does not include a price but does state the fee schedule will meet the Office of Public School Construction standards. When called, OPSC could not supply a document with these figures. OPSC sets the contract prices as a percentage of the construction fees, explained McManus. A dollar amount will be set after the district goes out to bid for the projects listed, she said.
California Education Code suggests 4 percent to 7 and one-half percent be awarded for construction management costs depending on the project estimates. Previously the district agreed to 10 percent to 12 percent payouts for similar contracts. This contract will be much lower, McManus said.
In April, the district fired Skanska, a company originally hired to oversee $298 million in construction projects. Questions of inflated costs, miscommunication, lack of state requirements and experience, and an author-less contract plagued the board's discussion before it discontinued its relationship with Skanska which it previously agreed to work with for the duration of the project. Skanska's contract costs had ballooned from the 2006 estimate of $11 million to the $24 million proposed contract. The trouble caused the district to re-evaluate the project list and stop all work for Measure M projects.
The board is considering a contract with Keygent for financial planning. The Manhattan Beach-based company will advise the district on financial positioning, options and construction cash flows giving the district an independent point of view, said McManus. The proposed contract will cost $190 per hour plus expenses not to exceed $35,000.
The final contract would rehire a company put on hold when the Skanska problems hit. McKim Design Group was hired in January to design air conditioning systems at Mills, Aragon and Hillsdale high schools. The design plans were nearly complete when the company was directed to stop. The company was not paid for any work yet, said McManus. This contract fixes problems with air-conditioning at the three campuses. At Aragon, the school has a chiller unit but no pipes, said Miller. Hillsdale has the opposite pipes but no chiller unit. And, Mills has neither.
Construction is anticipated to cost $2.5 million. First the contract calls for McKim Design Group to document the actual conditions of the three schools for $35,000. Secondly, the company will design the new system for $277,000.
The board meets 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 13 at the San Mateo Adult Resource and Technology Center, 789 Poplar Ave., San Mateo.
Project list
The management copy would oversee the following projects to close out Measure D the $137.5 million bond approved in 2000 and work funded by Measure M the $298 million bond measure approved in 2006 over this summer.
Life safety facilities deficiencies
Rest room structural repair at Burlingame High School;
Certify chemical hoods at Aragon High School;
Install heat in the Hillsdale High School locker rooms;
Install fire-treated panels at Aragon;
Aragon mold abatement;
Track and field repairs;
Music sounding proofing at Burlingame.
Measure M
Air conditioning at Aragon, Mills and Hillsdale high schools;
Rest room buildings at football fields;
Football bleacher modifications;
Student lockers;
Americans with Disabilities Act accessibility and lighting;
Columbine lock replacements;
Pool chemical system replacement;
Other life/safety projects;
Burlingame fire alarm ground fault;
Replace Burlingame music room cabinets;
Replace Burlingame sump pump;
Burlingame roof drain replacements;
Hillsdale boiler controls;
Mills roof drains install to retain warranty;
Mills warped doors;
San Mateo High School manufacturer floor tile defect;
Aragon fume hood certifications;
Aragon HVAC issues other than air conditioning;
Repair Aragon leaky roof;
Ventilation systems in all bathrooms and locker rooms;
Parking lot and paths at Capuchino High School;
San Mateo fume hood replacements;
Mills transite panel repair;
Investigate solar power purchase agreement; and
Update ADA report.
Source: San Mateo Union High School District board information packet
###
Additional article in San Mateo Times
Dozens of essential construction projects will finally begin in the San Mateo Union High School District more than a year after voters approved a $298 million bond.
Three contracts will be before the Board of Trustees tonight discussing construction management, financial planning and design services kick starting work to be done by Measure M the $298 million bond approved by voters in 2006. Work was previously put on hold when questions arose about ballooning contract expenses and a breakdown in communication. After an eight-month hiatus from construction, the board will consider the contracts to get work started during in March during spring break with a restructured schedule.
Everything needs to be done by Aug. 15 [before the school year begins],? said Superintendent David Miller. First the board will consider hiring Greystone West to oversee work to summer Measure M projects, other small projects and the projects required to close out Measure D a 2000 voter-approved bond for $137.5 million. Greystone West was selected from 12 from proposals. Eleven firms were interviewed, according to the staff report. Greystone West was one of three firms short listed, then ultimately selected as the most qualified. The company is currently overseeing the arsenic removal at Burlingame High School. This contract would be an extension of the work already being done in the district, said Liz McManus, associate superintendent of business services.
The contract information does not include a price but does state the fee schedule will meet the Office of Public School Construction standards. When called, OPSC could not supply a document with these figures. OPSC sets the contract prices as a percentage of the construction fees, explained McManus. A dollar amount will be set after the district goes out to bid for the projects listed, she said.
California Education Code suggests 4 percent to 7 and one-half percent be awarded for construction management costs depending on the project estimates. Previously the district agreed to 10 percent to 12 percent payouts for similar contracts. This contract will be much lower, McManus said.
In April, the district fired Skanska, a company originally hired to oversee $298 million in construction projects. Questions of inflated costs, miscommunication, lack of state requirements and experience, and an author-less contract plagued the board's discussion before it discontinued its relationship with Skanska which it previously agreed to work with for the duration of the project. Skanska's contract costs had ballooned from the 2006 estimate of $11 million to the $24 million proposed contract. The trouble caused the district to re-evaluate the project list and stop all work for Measure M projects.
The board is considering a contract with Keygent for financial planning. The Manhattan Beach-based company will advise the district on financial positioning, options and construction cash flows giving the district an independent point of view, said McManus. The proposed contract will cost $190 per hour plus expenses not to exceed $35,000.
The final contract would rehire a company put on hold when the Skanska problems hit. McKim Design Group was hired in January to design air conditioning systems at Mills, Aragon and Hillsdale high schools. The design plans were nearly complete when the company was directed to stop. The company was not paid for any work yet, said McManus. This contract fixes problems with air-conditioning at the three campuses. At Aragon, the school has a chiller unit but no pipes, said Miller. Hillsdale has the opposite pipes but no chiller unit. And, Mills has neither.
Construction is anticipated to cost $2.5 million. First the contract calls for McKim Design Group to document the actual conditions of the three schools for $35,000. Secondly, the company will design the new system for $277,000.
The board meets 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 13 at the San Mateo Adult Resource and Technology Center, 789 Poplar Ave., San Mateo.
Project list
The management copy would oversee the following projects to close out Measure D the $137.5 million bond approved in 2000 and work funded by Measure M the $298 million bond measure approved in 2006 over this summer.
Life safety facilities deficiencies
Rest room structural repair at Burlingame High School;
Certify chemical hoods at Aragon High School;
Install heat in the Hillsdale High School locker rooms;
Install fire-treated panels at Aragon;
Aragon mold abatement;
Track and field repairs;
Music sounding proofing at Burlingame.
Measure M
Air conditioning at Aragon, Mills and Hillsdale high schools;
Rest room buildings at football fields;
Football bleacher modifications;
Student lockers;
Americans with Disabilities Act accessibility and lighting;
Columbine lock replacements;
Pool chemical system replacement;
Other life/safety projects;
Burlingame fire alarm ground fault;
Replace Burlingame music room cabinets;
Replace Burlingame sump pump;
Burlingame roof drain replacements;
Hillsdale boiler controls;
Mills roof drains install to retain warranty;
Mills warped doors;
San Mateo High School manufacturer floor tile defect;
Aragon fume hood certifications;
Aragon HVAC issues other than air conditioning;
Repair Aragon leaky roof;
Ventilation systems in all bathrooms and locker rooms;
Parking lot and paths at Capuchino High School;
San Mateo fume hood replacements;
Mills transite panel repair;
Investigate solar power purchase agreement; and
Update ADA report.
Source: San Mateo Union High School District board information packet
###
Additional article in San Mateo Times
- Written by Fiona
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