JHS kitchen won’t be ready for start of school

Unforeseen kitchen issues at Jamestown High School are adding $260,000 to a construction project at Jamestown High School.

The Jamestown Public Schools Board of Education held a special meeting on Thursday to approve a $260,000 change order for the renovation project at JHS after two unforeseen issues were found in the JHS cafeteria kitchen. It’s expected the issues will delay the project by about three weeks and will impact kitchen and food preparation for the beginning of school.

"I also want to reassure our students, families, and staff that this work will not affect student access to the cafeteria," said Dr. Kevin Whitaker, Jamestown Public Schools District superintendent. "The work is taking place in a non-student area behind the kitchen, and the cafeteria will remain fully operational at the start of the school year, just as it has been since reopening last spring. Our food service team will continue serving its popular outdoor grilled meals while maintaining its strong partnership with Domino’s. Addressing the issue now, while construction is already underway during the summer, is the most efficient way to complete the repair and avoid greater disruption in the future."

The issue was discovered when crews found sewage leaking away from a pipe. Investigation into the issue revealed more than 100 feet of damaged or broken pipe, with much of the pipe bottom rotted out. The pipe ends just outside the kitchen, and a camera examination has determined there is no more pipe that needs to be replaced. It will cost between $160,000 and $180,000 to dig down and replace the bad pipe.

District officials also found flooring issues underneath a cooler that was removed from the kitchen. It will cost between $55,000 and $75,000 to replace the old cooler cork slab that was underneath the cooler.

“As phase work turned to the kitchen and storage area at Jamestown High School, contractors uncovered a deteriorated sanitary sewer line beneath the floor that serves nearby bathrooms and locker rooms. The work to address this issue is separate from the completed cafeteria renovation, and the line needs to be replaced before construction can continue in that area," Whitaker said. "As the condition of the line became fully known and the scope of work was finalized, the estimated cost is projected not to exceed $260,000 and is taken from the project’s contingency. This estimate reflects the full extent of the work required, including removing and replacing the concrete floor, replacing the sanitary line, and restoring the area once the repairs are complete."

The district had set aside $3.6 million for change orders on the project, with $1.2 million remaining. Because the change order is large, the board has to authorize the change, send it to the state Education Department for approval. The state will then issue a notice to proceed with the contractor, who will confirm the final schedule impact and relay it to district administrators.

"The Board of Education’s approval of this change order allows the work to move forward immediately, helping minimize delays to the overall kitchen renovation project and keeping the project on schedule as much as possible. The additional work is expected to extend completion of the kitchen preparation area into the fall," Whitaker said.

The project still has work remaining on the second floor of JHS, the gym and kitchen. Work is expected to be finished in December. There was good news regarding the JHS project. The subfloor under the gym in the McElrath Gymnasium was in excellent condition, meaning the new floor is being installed.