Referendums can be challenging and burdensome on district resources. That’s why hiring a Construction Manager with successful referendum experience is critical to maximizing school budgets while providing valuable insight throughout the process.
F.H. Paschen is proud to have been part of a successful March 2024 referendum with Union Ridge School District 86 and ARCON Associates. Union Ridge 86 had not ever gone to referendum with the last significant school addition coming more than 50 years ago. The school was at max capacity with district administrators moving into trailers on-site to create more classroom space for students.
Our team worked hand-in-hand with ARCON to develop ten scenarios and options for the School Board to review. We provided cost validation and alternative solutions to ensure the maximization of the potential referendum funds. We presented those options to the community at several meetings to offer transparency and understanding of the taxpayer investment.
Union Ridge 86 chose the option that provided security and classroom expansion and enchantments for the value and best use of space. Our preconstruction team was working in collaboration with ARCON to provide real market pricing throughout the several months of community engagement to ensure that the ask on ballot would reflect in real and meaningful upgrades to the student learning environment.
On March 19th, voters voted in favor of the referendum and our preconstruction team met with ARCON within the week to develop a program schedule. The schedule includes three key milestone cost validation dates during the design and construction document phase to ensure the project stays within the referendum budget. Construction is due to start February 2025, less than a year after the successful passage of the referendum.
