Agenda - 02-25-2025; 6-a - Project Management Options for School Construction

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1 ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: February 20, 2025 Action Agenda Item No. 6-a SUBJECT: Project Management Options for School Construction DEPARTMENT: County Manager ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: Project Management Structures Pros and Kirk Vaughn, (919) 245-2153 Cons Presentation — Orange County - Bond Program Management PURPOSE: To continue discussion on how to approach project management for school projects and to provide direction to staff. BACKGROUND: Over the past two years, the County has developed a plan to fund the construction of new and renovated school facilities through the passage of the bond referendum. During this planning period, the School Capital Needs Workgroup and Board members have identified the importance of project management in successfully completing these projects. However, the exact model of project management for the upcoming bond construction period has yet to be decided by the County and the Districts. At the January 21, 2025, Business Meeting, the Board began a discussion on Project Management, but adjourned early due to inclement weather. At the meeting, Board members requested additional information from experts to help inform the Board. County staff reached out to Jessica Killian, Director of Program Management at Turner & Townsend Heery. In that role, Ms. Killian has managed components of project and program management in major capital programs for Guilford County Schools, as well as Beaufort County Schools in South Carolina, Douglas County Schools District in Colorado, and Mapleton Public Schools in Colorado. In those four projects, Ms. Killian has provided management for nearly $2.7 billion dollars in school capital investment. Ms. Killian will discuss some of the complexities and considerations around project management that the County should consider in its decision. Ms. Killian will also differentiate the concept of "program management", which includes all the oversight and coordination of multiple projects, from the broader concept of "project management". The County or Districts can utilize firms such as Turner & Towsend Heery or Woolpert to provide this overarching program management of the multiple projects to ensure consistency of projects, alignment of Board principles, and realize some efficiencies. Individual projects would still require project management to ensure the projects are completed on time and in budget. Ms. Killian previously presented to the Chapel Hill- Carrboro City School District Finance, Facilities and Operations Board Subcommittee on the pros and cons of different delivery methods.