WHITE HALL – The scope of liquidated damages or penalties against CWR Construction Inc., general contractor for the recent expansions at White Hall High School has been reduced from $424,000 to $303,000, Superintendent Larry Smith told the school board Tuesday evening.
Smith quoted the project architect, Harold Franklin “Bunny” Brown, as noting he had researched weather conditions, change orders, a fire on the second floor of the 17-classroom addition and a storm to reach an estimate of 303 days the projects were late, which would reduce the claim for damages.
CWR may make a counterproposal, or seek mediation or binding arbitration as outlined in the original $6.2 million contract executed Jan. 18, 2010, Smith told directors.
Construction included the two-story, 17-classroom addition, physical education gymnasium, softball field, football field with artificial turf and track.
CWR earlier blamed several sub-contractors on the various projects for delays. While several change orders were included in Brown’s calculations, he noted the district lost the use of the new classroom wing for a full semester.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Brown’s four-page evaluation included 152 days late delivery for the classroom addition, not including the science lab; 97 days for the physical education gymnasium; 54 days for the softball field; and 74 days for the football field and track.
During Tuesday’s board meeting, directors recognized the junior and senior high football teams, the high school band and district choir for accomplishments; accepted the district audit for the year ending June 30; approved change orders on two projects at Moody Elementary School; accepted bids for two projects at the high school; and received final notice of academic progress made at district schools.
Smith told the board he was asked to speak at the Dec. 6 Redfield City Council meeting to address what Mayor Tony Lawhon called “rumors” that the district may consider closing Redfield Junior High School.
The superintendent provided the board with enrollment figures, revenue and state projections he presented at Redfield, adding he told Redfield residents that closing the junior high has not been considered by the board, but he could not guarantee any decisions that might be made in the future.
District and state officials make personnel decisions after monitoring enrollment and available revenues, Smith said, and the data is often projected 10 years in the future.