February 24, 2025 > Board authorization to solicit proposals for a Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR)
Administration believes that leveraging a CMAR can offer substantial benefits by identifying additional value engineering opportunities and expediting project readiness for student occupation. The CMAR model would complement the efforts of our architects and engineers, focusing on efficient planning, design, and administrative oversight for construction, without duplicating existing roles. A collaborative approach ensures that the projects remain cost-effective by maximizing value engineering opportunities with a second expert opinion and timely delivery of large projects, helping address the current and future space needs of the district.
February 24, 2025 > Board approval of a design services proposal from YHR Partners.
The proposal from YHR was to provide architectural, structural, civil, mechanical, and electrical engineering services for the design and construction of the addition and remodeling of South Elementary School. The scope of the additions is as follows: A phased demolition and rebuilding of the east academic wing, remodeling of existing classrooms, kitchen/commons area remodeling, new fire sprinkler systems throughout, new drop-off loop/playground at east side, additional parking at school property south of the school.
April 14, 2025 > Board authorization to select Gehrtz Construction as the Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR)
The administration received proposals from 10 firms and the selection committee scored these proposals based on the criteria contained in N.D.C.C. 48-01.2-20, including experience, current workload, personnel, safety record, familiarity with our market, fees, and compliance with the law. With a maximum possible score of 200 (50-point scale x 4 committee members), Gehrtz Construction received the highest score for both projects, with 170 points for Heritage Middle School and 173 points for South Elementary School.
May 12, 2025 > Board authorization for Legend Technical Services to perform two site visits to South Elementary for the purpose of conducting a comprehensive asbestos survey of the areas that will be added onto, as well as the areas that will be renovated.
June 16, 2025 > Board authorization to procure playground equipment and surfacing from Dakota Playground at a cost of $372,932.19 (inclusive of install), and to obtain bids for the hard surfaces and related work (basketball court and hoops, drain tile, fencing, and concrete surface) with an estimated cost of $339,597.50, for the new South Elementary playground on the south side of 7th Avenue
July 14, 2025 > Authorization for the administration to request that the City of West Fargo rezone the South Elementary site from residential to public/institutional
July 28, 2025 > Authorization to establish a guaranteed maximum price of $317,921.82 for construction of Phase I for the South Elementary School playground
November 24, 2025 > Review of the floor plans, site layout, and renderings for the South Elementary School renovation and addition project by Mark Lundberg of YHR Partners Architects
February 9, 2026 > Authorization to establish a guaranteed maximum price of $16,799,865.25 for construction costs associated with the addition and renovations to South Elementary School, with a total project estimate of $19,540,097.83, which is $1.69 million more than the referendum estimate and $1.83 million less than the design development estimate
February 9, 2026 > Approval of an $11,250 contract with Legend Technical to complete a proposal/cost estimate, specification, bidding services, asbestos oversight and project monitoring.
