After a new contaminant was found on the property where the new Burlington High School will be, the project will now cost the school district millions more.The new cost is nearly $20 million higher than the last estimate they received back in May.Last week, the project’s construction management company, Whiting Turner, submitted a new draft final to the Burlington School District. The total project cost would now be about $209 million.The additional cost is mainly for labor, design work, and concrete and steel materials.Superintendent Tom Flanagan said they can cover nearly all of the expenses, but that there’s a funding gap of roughly $2 million.Tuesday night, the Burlington School Board heard from project managers.They discussed several options presented to them.The most popular recommendation, though, revolved around Whiting Turner making re-designs to several smaller aspects of the original plan.It would save the school between $4-7 million.Dylan Lozier, one of Whiting Turner’s project managers, provided an example at the meeting. “Instead of having a certain type of heating equipment that sits above your ceiling at $1,000 a unit, there’s one that’s just as acceptable at $750 a piece,” Lozier said.Flanagan said whatever option is chosen, he’s adamant about not going back to taxpayers’ wallets.“We’re fortunate that we’re not going to need to go back to the taxpayers or need to go back and take out significant parts of the project that would be important,” Flanagan said.Jason Stanley has two kids in the Burlington School District.Despite some doubts, he believes in the necessity of the project.“The promises of tax rate not going up might give them a reason to do other stuff such as revaluating the property, values of the houses, then after that saying they haven’t raised tax rates in a while, they can readjust that,” Stanley said. “For the schools, it’s the investment in our kids, so we have to do it.”The project’s completion timeline is now slated for 2026.The school board will officially vote on an action plan at their next meeting on Sept. 19.
After a new contaminant was found on the property where the new Burlington High School will be, the project will now cost the school district millions more.
The new cost is nearly $20 million higher than the last estimate they received back in May.
Advertisement
Last week, the project’s construction management company, Whiting Turner, submitted a new draft final to the Burlington School District.
The total project cost would now be about $209 million.
The additional cost is mainly for labor, design work, and concrete and steel materials.
Superintendent Tom Flanagan said they can cover nearly all of the expenses, but that there’s a funding gap of roughly $2 million.
Tuesday night, the Burlington School Board heard from project managers.
They discussed several options presented to them.
The most popular recommendation, though, revolved around Whiting Turner making re-designs to several smaller aspects of the original plan.
It would save the school between $4-7 million.
Dylan Lozier, one of Whiting Turner’s project managers, provided an example at the meeting.
“Instead of having a certain type of heating equipment that sits above your ceiling at $1,000 a unit, there’s one that’s just as acceptable at $750 a piece,” Lozier said.
Flanagan said whatever option is chosen, he’s adamant about not going back to taxpayers’ wallets.
“We’re fortunate that we’re not going to need to go back to the taxpayers or need to go back and take out significant parts of the project that would be important,” Flanagan said.
Jason Stanley has two kids in the Burlington School District.
Despite some doubts, he believes in the necessity of the project.
“The promises of tax rate not going up might give them a reason to do other stuff such as revaluating the property, values of the houses, then after that saying they haven’t raised tax rates in a while, they can readjust that,” Stanley said. “For the schools, it’s the investment in our kids, so we have to do it.”
The project’s completion timeline is now slated for 2026.
The school board will officially vote on an action plan at their next meeting on Sept. 19.
