USD 333 to partner with McCownGordon
As seen in the Concordia Blade-Empire, (April 9th, 2019).
On the recommendation of the facilities committee and the administrative team, the Concordia Unified School District 333 board of education approved partnering with McCownGordon Construction, Manhattan, in the Construction Management at Risk (CMAR) process during its regular meeting on Monday night.
As CMAR for the district, McCownGordon will provide professional services and act as a consultant to the district in the design development and construction phases of a possible bond project.
The project could include improvements at the Concordia Junior-Senior High School, Concordia Middle School and Concordia Elementary School.
The board of education approved entering into the CMAR process for needs assessment and possible future improvement projects during its February meeting.
The district received statements and qualifications from several construction firms, and four companies on the short list made presentations to the district’s facilities committee.
A rubric was established, with the committee members ranking each of the firms on several areas including: Company overview, project team, pre-construction services, contingencies, cost management, local business utilization, construction plan, self-performance capabilities, site management, critical issues, fees and interview.
Based on those criteria, McCownGordon received the highest total score of the four firms that presented.
The other firms included Universal Construction Company Inc./Harbin Construction LLC, Coonrod & Associates and Simpson Construction Services.
“McCownGordon was the distinct winner based on the rubric,” USD 333 superintendent of schools Quentin Breese said, “Their interview was great.”
Breese said that what made McCownGordon stand out was what it could provide in the planning stages.
The district received a letter from Frank Burnam, director of Office of Facilities & Property Management for the Kansas Department of Administration.
Burnam evaluated the cost proposals from the four firms which made presentations for a possible USD 333 project.
Based on his evaluation, Burnam ranked McCownGordon Construction number one on the list.
“I know it is a long, daunting process for folks who don’t do this every day. This is something we are very familiar with,” Todd Knight, vice president of McCownGordon Kansas business unit, said, “As Quentin mentioned, the process of what we go through to help you find the right solutions. That is what we are here for. To make sure we are setting you up for the long term.”
Knight said that McCownGordan is currently working on a project in Belleville.
USD 333, prior to entering into the CMAR process, had contracted with Mike Mayo of the Ebert Mayo Design Group Architects & Planning Consultants for facilities planning.
Mayo presented the school board with construction plans and cost estimates for projects involving the junior-senior high school, elementary school and UDE 333 Service Center.
The original cost estimates were $41.9 million. That was then lowered to $34.4 million.
Included in the new hires approved by the board during the meeting, was the hiring of Steen Danielsen as new Concordia Junior-Senior High School assistant principal, athletic director and activities director. He replaces Brandon Rice, who resigned in March to accept a job as K-12 principal at Otis-Bison.
Danielsen received his bachelor’s degree in secondary education, social studies from Kansas State University in 2011 and his master’s in educational administration from Emporia State University last spring. He has taught social studies and physical education at Valley Center High School since 2015, and was also the head coach of the boys’ and girls’ soccer teams.
The other new hires approved by the board include Taylor Danielsen, second grade teacher; Karen Reedy, third grade teacher; Chelsea Martin, Kanas Reading Roadmap project coordinator; and Jennifer Giersch, head school nurse.
The resignations accepted included Brenda Gilliland, junor-senior high school business teacher; Chelsey Green, junior-senior high school FACS teacher; Heather Rogge, second grade teacher; and Krystin Will, Kansas Reading Roadmap project coordinator.
The KPERS retirement of Sharon Skinner was accepted.
The supplemental contracts for the following high school coaches were approved by the board:
Ken Meyer, Andrew Dominguez and Doug Thoman, assistant football; Megan James and Jaque Nutsch, assistant volleyball; Rick Haden, head cross country; Michael Wahlmeier, head boys’ and girls’ tennis; Michael Roe, head boys’ basketball; Michael Loring and Andrew Dominguez, assistant basketball; Michael Wahlmeier, head girls’ basketball; Carly Bloomfield, assistant girls’ basketball; Josh Brown, head wrestling; Skyler Hittle and Jarin Brown, assistant wrestling; Gene Rundus, head boys’ and girls’ golf; Dick Switzer, Scott Coppoc and Andrew Dominguez, assistant track; Brandt Hutchinson, head baseball; Dustin Bender and Rowe Hinkle, assistant baseball; Larry Metro;,head softball; Fred Holmes and Morgan Trost, assistant softball.
The supplemental contracts for the following junior high school coaches were approved:
Laura Krier, head volleyball; Cyndi Atwell, assistant volleyball; David Gieber, head football; Rowe Hinkle, Michael Roe and Josh Brown, assistant football; Rick Haden, cross country; Skyler Hittle, head wrestling; Quentin Clark, assistant wrestling; Ashley Carlgren, head girls’ basketball; Shalynn Loring, assistant girls’ basketball; David Gieber, head basketball; Zach Morris, Dick Switzer and Rowe Hinkle, assistant basketball; Rick Haden, head track; Ashley Carlgren and Doug Thoman, assistant track.
Want to stay up-to-date with what’s happening in K-12 from our industry experts? Sign up for our K-12 newsletter.
