The Española School Board learned during its April 2 meeting that the long-awaited kindergarten renovation project at Los Niños Kindergarten could cost much more than originally estimated.
The Board listened as FBT Architects and Progressive Construction Management representatives explained why the renovations could cost between $130,000 to $205,000 more than the $1,178,000 the District allocated for the project.
This new revelation means the District would pay $1,308,000 of the project’s total $3,375,000 cost. It will pay for 34 percent of the project and the state will pay the remaining 66 percent.
Board member Pablo Lujan expressed concern with the design and development plans because he said the excess cost could impact the District’s ability to complete future projects.
“It frustrates me to have these excessive cost overages. This isn’t the only project we are working on,” Lujan said. “We have multiple projects that we are working on to move the District forward and when you come back to us and tell us, ‘We need another $200,000, or we need $100,000,’ by (the) time you know it, there is going to be a project that is not going to get done.”
Sanjay Engineer of FBT Architects explained the cost overruns aren’t all that abnormal, considering it’s difficult to determine the scope of the work until planners complete the project’s design and development phase.
“Until we get to this phase we can’t get to the bottom of the scope of the work,” Engineer said. “The biggest value added to the project is the mechanical and electrical systems.”
He said when planners developed the project at the funding level, they may not have had the proper information to define the amount of work those systems needed.
The design plans call for more than $814,000 worth of mechanical and plumbing work. This includes updating the plumbing fixtures, making the restrooms handicap accessible and replacing the heating ventilation and air conditioning systems the building has had since 1986.
Electrical and special systems, which include lighting, network rewiring and additional computer receptacles, will take up nearly $440,000 of the project’s cost.
The plan also sets aside $250,000 for roof repairs.
Engineer said he and his team didn’t anticipate the kindergarten’s newest addition, built in 2004, would need a new roof.
“But over the last month it has become quite obvious that that roof will have to be repaired,” he said. “The roofing consultant recommends all repairs be made at once so you don’t have to come back and perform other repairs like patching the roof, etc.”
The design and development plan also includes an alternative $75,000 stucco job. The District would have to pay for the entire job since it wasn’t included in the original proposal presented to legislators.
Engineer said his team designed improvements that would last a while.
“Over the past 12 months, we made progress with regard with PSFA (Public School Facility Authority) reviews and approvals of those systems,” he said. “It appears the most economical system that will last the District for another 25 to 40 plus years is still going to cost a whole bunch more money than projected.”
Engineer emphasized that planners developed a complete renovation plan which allows for streamlining the project’s many facets. The idea was to make it so the District wouldn’t have to piece meal the project.
The renovations outlined in the plan are the “bare minimum needed to ensure the project’s success,” he said.
District Superintendent Danny Trujillo urged the Board to allow the project to run its course.
He said when he first became superintendent he and Board members decided they would plan future projects that would work well with the District’s overall goal of attracting more students.
“This is one project,” Trujillo said. “It is a small piece, but it is an important piece.”
Trujillo said his analysis is supported with evidence gleaned from the expansion of the District’s kindergarten classrooms this fall.
“I am basing this on fact,” he said. “This year we opened up four new kindergarten classrooms. We are getting the kids in our system.”
The state recently granted the District permission to increase its early childhood education program, Trujillo said.
“We got the pre-k application approved for 40 slots, that means 40 new students,” he said. “So anyone who has a 4-year-old out there can have their child enrolled in a program, probably,” he said.
Engineer said it is better to have a frank discussion over the cost sooner rather than later.
“I would rather we have discussion before it goes out to bid and before we have a project that comes in over budget,” Engineer said.
The last time the District did any major work on the school was in 2004, when new classrooms were added. That project ended up eight months behind schedule and $200,000 over budget.
After the Board approves the project’s design and development plans, a Request for Proposal will be issued. Once the approximately four-week bidding process ends, the Board will select a contractor. The contractor should start construction approximately eight months after selection.