WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. By John F. Bailey. June 27, 2006: Kaeyer Garment & Davidson, preparers of the White Plains City School District Facilities Review  and advisors to the Capital Projects Committee reviewing the feasibility and scope of the $67.5 Million infrastructure and facilities upgrading project for the Board of Education, will make millions in commission based on the total cost of the Capital Project, based on their contract currently being considered by the school board it was learned Monday evening.

The architectural firm originally proposed $95 Million in recommended construction, which was then reduced by the district to $67.5 Million. The architect  will make it appears, millions in commissions included in the cost of the now $67.5 Million capital projects effort now being considered by the school district for referendum in the fall, according to sketchy details of the contract outlined very briefly by the Board of Education Monday evening.

The Board of Education, at the suggestion of Peter Bassano, tabled voting on the contract for KG & D, architects for the 2001-2004 high school renovation ($27 Million). Bassano told WPCNR the Board had not been given an opportunity to review the contract prior to Monday evening. Bassano remarked Tuesday evening in the Board session that KG & D’s fee for their work on the capital projects would be based on 8% of the infrastructure projects under $5 Million and 7% of new construction over $5 Million.

This would result in KG & D earning approximately $5 Million in fees over the five year construction period, ($3,382,643 from the new Post Road School project, $744,604 on the Mamaroneck Avenue School project, and $1,062,544 on the infrastructure improvements.

The details of the contract were not made available, and it is not known at this time if there are other fees in addition to these percentages that the firm will be paid, or a cap provision is written into the contract.

KG & D Defends costs.

KG & D is the source for estimated costs on the $67.5 Million project, in addition to the construction management firm (Triton Construction, a long-time collaborator with KG & D), and stands to earn more the higher the costs of the project, which have been pointed out frequently by the architect, will rise past $67.5 Million the longer it takes to get the project started. Planning now is to begin construction on infrastructure in 2007, and in 2008 on the new school, allowing the new Post Road School to be completed by 2010-11.

The architectural firm is serving as sole advisors on the school board-appointed committee reviewing the scope, cost, financial and physical impacts of the project on the district to make a recommendation to the Board of Education on which aspects of the project should proceed to referendum, if any should, in the fall.

In meetings attended to date by WPCNR , KG & D has consistently defended the costs of the project as being cost-effective in the long run for the school district. They recommend and support the synthetic turf installations and new stands to be installed at Loucks Field and Highlands Parker Stadium. They have consistently urged a new school construction at Post Road School, and the construction management firm Triton Construction which is working with KG & D on five other projects around the region has supported KG & D’s preliminary costs on the $67.5 Million endeavor. The only matter KG & D conceded their costs might be out of line was on the windows estimates for Damman House at the high school which called for replacements of windows at a cost of over  $600,000.

The KG & D  support of the Parker and Loucks Stadium renovations has backed off the substantial cost savings they referred in previously months to that of the advantage of sharply increased usage of the stadiums, and reduced injuries, once the fields are synthetic turf-equipped, noting that the turf may have to be replaced after 8 years.

Land Question Involved in New Post Road School Decision.

Presently the Capital Projects Committee of the school district  which meets tonight at 7:30 P.M. to discuss the new Post Road School, is awaiting a “task force” review of other site locations in the city for a new school, making the case for the school district to ask for a variance from New York State Education Department on the rule that a new elementary school for 600 pupils has to be built on at least 10 acres of property. (The Post Road School property is only 5-1/2 acres).

In order to build the new Post Road School at the Post Road site, the school district has to show the NYSED why there is no land elsewhere in the city to build there. An NYSED Facilities Manager told WPCNR last week that a variance should not be a problem for the city school district provided the district makes a good case for Post Road being the only site possible to build upon in the city, and that there are no 9-1/2 acre sites available in the city.

Previously, the Capital Projects Committee has with 5 persons attending one meeting, and 7 persons another, stood squarely behind the synthetic turf installations and stadium stand construction at Parker and Loucks Fields at the cost of $9 Million; and similarly endorsed the Post Road School, after attending a tour of the school earlier this month, citing poor electrical facilities, a mildewing dampness to the school, cramped classrooms and split library facility. The tour convinced those members of the committee that a new school was definitely needed.