McPherson USD 418 board moves forward with construction manager process for bond projects
Construction Manager At-Risk model will guarantee a maximum price for $89.6 million in facility upgrades
MCPHERSON, Kan. — McPherson USD 418 is moving ahead with plans to revamp its school facilities, voting Wednesday to seek a construction manager to oversee $89.6 million in bond projects and guarantee a maximum price for taxpayers.
During a special meeting, the Board of Education authorized use of a Construction Manager At-Risk (CMAR) model for facility upgrades voters approved in early March. The two-part bond package includes a $62.6 million academic wing at McPherson High School and a $27 million project to convert Eisenhower Elementary School into a middle school.
Duane Cash of Incite Design Studio, which consulted with the district on the bond, said the CMAR process differs from a traditional design-bid-build approach. It allows the district to select a manager early in the design phase who will hold a single contract and guarantee a maximum price, while still bidding out individual project components to multiple subcontractors.
The approach offers potential cost savings, Cash said. A construction manager can identify supply needs early and secure materials at favorable prices before costs rise.
Following the vote, district administrators will publish a legal notice of intent and issue a formal request for proposals. The board also met in two executive sessions Wednesday to discuss contract negotiations and the district's ongoing superintendent search with a representative from the Kansas Association of School Boards.
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