Savings found as WHS work continues

Budget savings are still being found as construction of the new Whitefish High School continues.

District representative Dow Powell said $20,000 in savings was found in the last month. He’s hopeful more savings will be found to assist with the project’s budget shortfall of $246,000.

“We’re making headway in the right direction,” he said during a budget and oversight committee meeting last week at the high school.

Loren Cantrell, with general contractor Langlas & Associates, said often $500 or $1,000 is saved at a time when a subcontractor suggests substituting a less expensive material than originally planned. Much of the savings has been identified in this manner.

“Nobody has forgotten about looking for savings,” he said.

In addition, final cost numbers for the remodel of the foyer should be available soon. A late design change would retain the current foyer adjacent to the gymnasium, along with the restrooms, instead of replacing the area with a narrow hallway. The change is expected to provide more square footage, while saving money.

“Hopefully we’ll see even more savings in that area than previously expected,” he said. “Either way we’re saving by not tearing that area out and rebuilding a new hallway.”

As for the construction work, Powell said the overall project continues to be on schedule and is progressing well. Beginning in November, crews are expected to install the roof.

He said any delays that occurred because of the later than expected approval of the final bid package have all but been made up, putting it close to the original schedule.

“The (contractor) has chiseled away and made time up,” he said.

The physical education/activities portion of the buildings should be finished in late October. The new locker rooms are expected to be finished in the next two weeks. The training room and laundry facilities are expected to be completed around that time as well.

Following the completing of the new locker rooms, the lockers will be moved out of the cardio and weight room that have served as temporary locker rooms. Then the cardio and weight rooms can be finished and equipment installed in both.