Phase two of construction at the new Sobrato High School is just
slightly behind schedule, according to Principal Rich Knapp, but
construction costs are sticking close to budget limits.
Phase two of construction at the new Sobrato High School is just slightly behind schedule, according to Principal Rich Knapp, but construction costs are sticking close to budget limits.
Trustees heard Monday night that the district is in line for a $909,000 credit based on “value-engineering” related to change orders. In an article in the Nov. 13 edition of The Times, the credit was called an overage.
Al Solis, director of construction and modernization for the district, and his staff and Turner Construction staff found ways to trim costs, trustees were told.
The construction of Sobrato, located on Burnett Avenue, was partially funded by a $72 million bond passed in July 1999. The bond also funded the construction of Barrett Elementary and the some renovation of Live Oak High.
The budget for Sobrato is $78,460,361; Solis told trustees Monday night that the project currently is over budget by $9,637, for a total of $78,469,998.
Both the district and Turner Construction have contingency accounts to pay for any change orders.
An initial package of “value engineering,” or finding a less costly alternative or change in design, saved the district $1,762,179, plus another value engineering package of $404,209, helped to offset an increase in costs due to some change orders. Adding up both the positive and negative change orders leaves a credit to the district of $909,046.
Solis told trustees Monday that although only 77 percent of the budget, or approximately $60 million has been paid out, 97 percent of the budget, $75,733,415, has been committed. The district issues checks after work is complete.
Knapp said Tuesday much of the rest of the campus will be completed in February.
“We will take possession of the D and E buildings, the library, gym, locker rooms and pool Feb. 22, or probably the week after when people come back from vacation,” he said. “We will only use a couple of classrooms in the D and E buildings, specific things like for our art classes. The other rooms we’ll keep vacant until we have another grade of students next year and the year after that.”
The school opened in August with only freshmen and sophomore classes.
Phase two also includes the auditorium, which Solis told trustees Monday night is approximately 65 percent complete, and the kitchen-cafeteria building, which has been redesigned to make it less costly. The kitchen is approximately 40 percent complete.
As for phase one, Knapp said, the two completed classrooms and administration building are in good shape.
“There are just two things, really,” he said. “The heat is not up and running yet. When PG&E began work, they hit a gas pipe, and they’re having to bleed off air in the pipes, but the boilers should start up this week … There is still some work going on in the home ec room, installing some appliances … I’m very pleased with what’s going on so far.”
Marilyn Dubil covers education and law enforcement for The Times. She can be reached by e-mail at md****@mo*************.com or phoning (408)779-4106 Ext. 202
