Page 10 - Edconnect Feb 2017

SalesSurtax: PreppingForSummer2017Projects
By Susan Hann, PE, AICP, director of Planning and Project Management
This time of year, the project management team is closing out the summer 2016 projects, contracting for summer 2017 projects, and planning for summer 2018 projects.
For a typical summer project involving major air conditioning and electrical upgrades, a commissioning process is required to ensure the project is operating in accordance with the design intent. This is a requirement of the Florida building code (for larger mechanical projects) that was adopted after the sales surtax referendum. The district hires an independent third party mechanical engineer (the “commissioning agent”) to review and test the operation of the systems to ensure proper operation. Typically, the commissioning agent will identify minor issues that need to be corrected prior to closing out the project.
After all construction items are complete, the contractor submits a nal pay application that is reviewed by district sta and then is sent to the district’s construction auditors
for review. Projects over $1 million are always audited and some under $1 million are selected for audit. The construction auditors review the nal pay application to ensure that billing is in compliance with the contract documents. Both of these
Summer 2017 major facility renewal:
processes are completed prior to nal payment. These processes, in combination with the district’s sta , review and monitoring, are additional checks and balances to ensure the work and invoicing are in compliance with the contract documents. These best practices are used on the sales surtax projects as well as other facility renewal projects.
Summer 2017 will also see roof renewal projects at Andersen Elementary (building 1) and Titusville High (building 19).
Also happening throughout 2017 is the district school
security project, which includes fencing and access control.
All remaining schools (+/- 60) are currently under design and construction is scheduled for spring 2017 through spring 2018.
Although the facility renewal projects are the largest investment of sales surtax funds, the program also includes resources for educational technology. The educational technology program has made an investment in every school including 85 servers and 4,527 computers.
The next Independent Citizens Oversight Committee (ICOC) meeting is Wednesday, February 15, 2017 at the School Board building in Viera at 3 pm. The public is welcome to attend. In addition, a joint workshop with the ICOC and the School Board is tentatively scheduled for February 28, 2017 at 2 pm.
Remember much of the sales surtax work is not easily visible, so if you see the Sales Surtax at Work Banner displayed – check out what’s happening inside the school, behind the walls, under the oors and above the ceilings.
Elementary schools
Apollo
Fairglen
Saturn
Turner
Westside
West Melbourne
Middle schools
DeLaura Hoover Jackson Kennedy Southwest Stone
High schools
Bayside Melbourne
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www.brevardschools.org
Volume V, Issue 4