Minutes 02-25-2025-Business Meeting

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27 them. She said that it is their job to make sure that the bond funds are implemented as they were designed to do, and this allows the school staff to continue to do the work they were already doing. Chair Bedford asked if the school districts are still hiring their own architects and construction companies. Jessica Killian said the schools would still be approving the contracts, but the program manager would assist in running the RFQs and being part of that process. Chair Bedford asked how design-build fits into this. Jessica Killian said that design-build is a delivery method. She said that a single entity is hired to design and build the project. Chair Bedford asked if the schools would then still be a decision maker. Jessica Killian said yes and that the Board is the funding authority. She said that the way that the schools contract to have projects completed should not interfere with the funding. She said they may be more comfortable with different methods and maybe there are reasons for one delivery over another one, but this goes under their authority, and this could be something included in the ILA. Travis Myren said the program manager would help choose a delivery method that fits best with any set of circumstances. Chair Bedford said she doesn't see three new schools happening with the financial outlook. She said that she wants to manage expectations. She said that the school boards and county commissioners should work on managing expectations. She said that besides major projects and high priority needs, there are other schools that need to be kept running. She asked if the program manager has any influence in the schools that continue to operate during the projects. Jessica Killian said the discussions so far have been about bond program management. She said the industry could also support doing bond and deferred maintenance. She said it really depends and that would depend on how the school districts feel. Chair Bedford said pay-go is also involved. She said they had previously said they may need to add a support person in-house, and the manager will have to determine if it is more efficient to do an RFP for a consultant, or if the county could support an in-house position. Commissioner Fowler asked how much program management costs and what it includes. Jessica Killian said she cannot fully answer that without knowing all they need. She said that all of what Commissioner Fowler mentioned would be part of program management agreement, but she can't give a figure until she has an idea of what the county is looking for service-wise. Chair Bedford invited Anne Purcell, OCS Board of Education Chair, to speak on behalf of OCS Board of Education. Anne Purcell said when she was principal they requested funds for a new auditorium. She said that she was heavily involved in the program management and had to go to all the meetings. She said that she knows that Mr. Davis is in favor of having a project manager and he has experience building several schools in other districts. She said she thinks he and CHCCS staff have had conversations and are in favor. She said they all want to be transparent with constituents about the money and where it's going. Jessica Killian said that it will be different having program management at the county, but it is because there are two school districts, and it is a unique situation. Chair Bedford also invited Al Ciarochi to speak. Al Ciarochi said CHCCS is in support of program-project management. He said they made very strong commitments to the citizens, and they are ready to make the next step. He said that it is important for transparency and delivering on what was promised. He said they are in favor of higher-level program management as long as they are at the table for the design process.