Design delays hinder school construction

Design delays associated with customizing a pre-fabricated addition to the South Nodaway R-IV High School/Middle School building in Barnard have set construction back by about two months, Superintendent Kyle Collins said Tuesday.

Collins said he is still hopeful that contractor Lee Grover Construction of St. Joseph can make up the time and complete the 7,200 square-foot structure on schedule this July. The addition will house the district's elementary classrooms.

Part of the difficulty involves a question about the type of electrical conduit to be used in the structure. Collins said the district originally requested installation of metal conduit, but plans submitted by the architect to the builder apparently called for metal-covered, or "MC," wiring, a less expensive alternative.

According to R-IV School Board minutes from a meeting held earlier this month, "the architect and electrical engineer were specifically told to include these items in the original bid. The fact that they were not is an error of omission by the architect and should not be at the school's expense."

Collins said the district is currently working with its design firm, River Bluff Architects, also of St. Joseph, to resolve the difficulty. That discussion also concerns change orders related to the installation of a sump pump and condensation units, which were apparently left out of the bid package as well.

"There are some things that we had originally asked for that, in the end, were not in the bid," said Collins, who added that the issue of who will pay additional costs, if any, is still being worked out.

Records state that board members were "very displeased that these change orders are occurring" because the conduit and other items were addressed early on by the district's construction committee.

"The architect and electrical engineer were specifically told to include these items in the original bid. The fact that they were not is an error of omission by the architect and should not be at the school's expense," board minutes stated.

However, the main reason for the construction delay, Collins said, has to do with completion of the addition's "multiple design phases," a process complicated by the need to tailor the metal-framed, pre-fabricated building to South Nodaway's custom requirements.

"Assuming that they can get that done — complete the engineering plans — I think they'll be able to start pouring concrete and footings and get back on schedule," Collins said.

Work is now at a standstill until plans can be redrawn, resubmitted and approved. A revised timeline calls for Lee Grover to begin work on the foundation during the week of Dec. 10.

In April, South Nodaway voters approved a $1.1 million bond issue to pay for the addition, which will replace an aging K-6 elementary school in Guilford at the start of the 2013 school year.

District officials have argued that less shuffling between the two campuses and other efficiencies, including possible staff reductions, will save the district money.

The add-on will include elementary classrooms, a full-service kitchen, special education facilities, offices, restrooms, storage space and a commons area. When complete, the new space will extend the front of the existing high school eastward into what is now a parking lot.

The district currently serves about 185 students, of whom 86 attend classes in Guilford.