The Putnam County School Board voted Thursday to penalize a contractor for ongoing construction delays at the new Early Learning Academy, deducting $39,000 in liquidated damages from the company’s latest pay approval.
Director of Schools Corby King said the school system is struggling to provide a set schedule to families and staff as the project timeline continues to shift. King said the district is now in a “crunch time” period where officials would normally be allowing families to tour the facility and helping teachers move into their new classrooms.
“We’ve not been able to communicate really a solid plan to families that are going to be attending that building, which you know we’re a month behind, easily a month behind where we would normally be communicating, letting families come in, familiarize themselves with the building, this is really… I know you guys are pushing now to get this done but we’re we’re struggling to firm up dates,” King said.
Energy Systems Group Senior Project Manager Todd Anderson said the project faced recent setbacks after receiving a submittal back from the Fire Marshal that required updates. Anderson said the company is working to submit additional details within the next few days.
“By the schedule that I presented, we are still looking at July 17 for that TCO (Temporary Certificate of Occupancy),” Anderson said. “And that’s all based on the firewall work. If we can move that up, we’ll get those inspections early.”
Anderson said the punch list for the building is approximately 75 percent complete. Anderson said the installation of stairs and ramps is pending a two-week delivery window for materials, with work expected to begin following a delivery date of June 29.
“You know you guys need to understand that we have been kind of frustrated with this whole deal and and we we’re now at crunch time and we need to start putting everything in perspective and get this thing rolling so that that you guys understand what we expect,” Board Member David McCormick said.
King said the district needs a firm date to hire a moving company to transport teacher belongings from their current locations to the new academy. Anderson said local building officials have indicated teachers may be able to begin moving personal items into classrooms before the final inspections are completed, though he is still awaiting confirmation from the Fire Marshal.
The board approved a pay request for Energy Systems Group totaling $28,712.95, which reflected the reduction for liquidated damages incurred since April 30.