SAN BENITO — San Benito school district officials have negotiated a contractor’s $76,000 payment resulting from rising materials’ costs in a $1.2 million project that has entered its second year.
On Monday, board President Ramiro Moreno said the approved change order would pave the way for completion of the Jana Kay Landrum Auxiliary Services Building’s parking areas launched under the district’s previous administration in September 2021.
Last week, board members met in closed session to discuss the change order’s request.
“That was after heavy negotiation,” Moreno said Monday, referring to the change order’s approval. “Rising costs in materials resulted in a need for a change order.”
Superintendent Theresa Servellon worked with district officials to negotiate Brownsville-based G&T Paving’s request, he said.
“G&T was able to negotiate with the district and were able to bring down the cost to a reasonable amount,” he stated. “I am pleased with our current administration currently overseeing the project being completed successfully and in a timely manner with the end result being assured safety for our primary stakeholders — our students.”
The change order’s approval will “soon” lead to the project’s completion, said Moreno, who did not offer a timetable.
Previous administration launched project
Moreno blamed the district’s previous administration for failing to work with engineers to evaluate the project site before launching construction.
“Something important to note is the fact that at the onset of this project the previous administration did not obtain engineers and/or people with specialization in this area but rather chose to oversee a project that superseded their areas of expertise, hence the dilemmas our district has had to face,” he stated.
Meanwhile, board member Orlando Lopez denied the claim.
“You can’t blame the previous administration,” he said, adding he did not vote to award the bid to G&T. “(G&T) bid on the project and you’ve got to hold them accountable. The board voted on that project.”
Board took no action on June change order request
Last June, board members met in closed session to discuss G&T’s request for a $62,672 change order stemming from rising materials costs, including a $45,461 jump in the cost of asphalt.
However, the board took no action, Moreno stated Monday.
The project
More than a year ago, district officials launched the project aimed at paving the Jana Kay Landrum Auxiliary Services Building’s bus barn parking areas.
The project is aimed at building a concrete pad in the gravel parking area, school board member Rudy Corona said.
“The Landrum parking lot project came about to address concerns from bus drivers and maintenance staff referencing huge potholes and low-lying areas that would puddle up with water after heavy rainfalls,” Moreno stated. “It was important to address these concerns since this is where our buses are housed and this is where our district transportation originates for our students.”
Moreno said the districts’ buses damage their alignments driving over the potholes.
Contractors’ bids
In September 2021, district officials launched the project after board members voted 4-3 to award a $1.2 million construction bid to G&T Paving, which stated it would complete the project in 120 days.
After reviewing five bids, Moreno and the board’s majority voted to award the contract to G&T while Lopez and minority members noted Rio Hondo-based Rhyner Construction Services was proposing a $994,980 bid while stating it would complete the project in 60 days.
