School board approves CMAR process
A month after voting to publish a notice of intent to use an alternative method for construction services, the Concordia Unified School District 333 board of education approved the Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) process for needs assessment and possible future improvement projects during its regular meeting Monday night.
The board of education held a formal hearing on the CMAR process during the meeting,
CMAR is a delivery method which entails a commitment by a construction manager to deliver the project within a guaranteed maximum price (GMP) which is based on the construction documents and specifications at the time of the GMP plus any reasonable inferred items or tasks.
The CMAR provides professional services and acts as a consultant to the district in the design development and construction phases.
During the January meeting, superintendent of schools Quentin Breese said that the CMAR delivery method has several unique benefits including taking the burden off of the district and managing and coordinating the project. The main purpose of the CMAR is not to construct the project, but to manage the construction of the project.
USD 333 had previously contracted with Mike Mayo, principal architect with Ebert Mayo Design Group Architects & Planning Consultants for facilities planning.
Mayo had presented the board with construction plans and cost estimates for projects involving the Concordia Junior-Senior High School, the Concordia Elementary School and the USD 333 Service Center (the old Middle School).
Original cost estimates presented by Mayo were $41.9 million. It was lowered to $34.4 million by Mayo during the board's December meeting.
The board, in January, made the decision to use the CMAR process when looking at facilities needs.
By approving the CMAR process, the board now seeks statements of qualifications from construction managers and general contractors interested in providing CMAR services for facilities needs assessments. The assessment will include, but will not be limited to, the district's current three locations.
The proposed scope of the work may include the following elements; Improvements at the Concordia High School, Concordia Middle School and Concordia Elementary School (efficiencies to HVAC systems, roofs, etc.); enhanced learning environments – remodel of existing sites or consider additions to be identified later.
A three-phase evaluation system is used in the CMAR process. The board will evaluate the qualifications of all firms in accordance with the instructions of the request for qualifications.
The selections recommendation committee will select the firm providing the best value based on the proposal criteria and weighting factors utilized to emphasize important elements of each project for approval by the board.
If the selection recommendation committee determines that it is not in the best interest of the board to proceed with the project pursuant to the proposals offered, it may reject all proposals. In that case, the board may solicit new proposals using different design criteria, budget constraints or qualifications.
Under the timeline included in the CMAR process, the statement of qualifications is due February 22.
The timeline also states: Short list announced by district and formally issue requests for proposals, February 26; scheduled facilities tours for identified firms, March 1; requests for proposals due, March 8; interviews, March 18; board consideration for recommendation, March 19; anticipated preconstruction start date, anticipated construction start date and anticipated construction completion date, to be announced.
In other action taken by the board of education during the meeting, the purchase of a 2019 Kawasaki Mule 4010 4x4, at a cost of $11,428.95, was approved.
The board approved an agreement with Trane for the BTU Crew PBL and energy and indoor air quality analysis at a cost of $13,578.
The analysis provided by Trane includes ROI analysis and economic justification report with costs, offset by energy, operational maintenance and cost avoidance savings documented in third-party studies by the Federal Energy Management Program and American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air-conditioning Engineers.
The ROI payback for Trane's ongoing data analytics subscription costs has been running less than a year for most districts in Kansas.
Targeted annual utility savings provided by Trane is $14,115.
The Trane BTU Crew FBL program for students in grades 4. Students use real-time data analytics from their own district buildings to learn about energy, careers and energy saving improvements that improve school building performance in a rigorous and relevant PBL that leads to Kansas Board of Regions approved Career Technical Education programming with industry recognized certifications earned in labs at Wichita State University Tech and Washburn Tech.
Appointing Steve Wetter, Tim Beims and Mark Nordell to the negotiation team was approved by the board.
The board approved the LCNCK/USD 333 audit results presented during the meeting by Dennis Miller, Mapes & Miller LLP.
The resignations of Doug Moore, Concordia Junior-Senior High School language arts instructor, and Sharon Skiner, early childhood education teacher, were accepted by the board.
Kelly Struebing, USD 333 technology director, provided information on a 1-1 computer policy.
The 1-1 policy proposal would be for students in grades 2-12.
Students in grades 9-12 would be provided a Chromebook for school use.
It has yet to be determined what system will be implemented for students in grades 7-8.
A cart based system will be used for students in grades 2-6.
Estimated cost of the Chromebooks is $300 per computer. They would be on a four year rotation.
USD 333 implemented a 1-1 program in 2009 at a cost of $267,750. The program ended in 2013.
Struebing outlined some of the issues with the program, and the personal computers provided. He said those issued have been addressed in the proposed program.
Implementing the 1-1 program would add about $40,000 per year to the district's technology budget, Struebing said.