PHOTO PROVIDED According to Crabtree, Rohrbaugh & Associates representatives, the new Liberty Curtin Elementary School project is well on track to completion.

MILL HALL — Construction of the new Liberty Curtin Elementary School is on track and roughly two months ahead of schedule.

That was part of the update the Keystone Central School Board heard from architects at Crabtree, Rohrbaugh & Associates regarding ongoing construction at the school in Blanchard.

Crabtree representative Jeff Straub, who has coordinated the majority of the project along with Project Manager Drew Cerjanic, told the board during its work session the construction project is “just under 60 percent complete.”

“I’m happy to say the project is on schedule and moving very well. Right now, time-wise, we’re just under 60 percent complete with the project. We are cost-wise 67 percent complete with the schedule,” Straub said.

Straub said the new building is now under a permanent roof with trim around the perimeter and exterior windows being installed.

He added that interior mechanical, electrical plumbing systems are 80 percent complete; plumbing is 90 percent complete and electrical is on a similar track.

The majority of larger items have been delivered and are onsite preparing for installation as well, he said.

He noted the electrical switchgear — similar to a main panel in a home — is scheduled to be delivered in December.

“We are roughly two months ahead of schedule,” he said.

Straub said a lot of interior work will be completed in the winter which includes drywall, installation of cabinetry, whiteboard, other amenities and flooring.

“We do have some challenges that we’re addressing with the mechanical contractor at this time,” he said. “Every project has something we work through but we’re coordinating with the district on that.”

In terms of the district’s financial standing, Straub said billing is about 67 percent complete. In terms of its change orders, he said the district is well below on its $540,000 contingency.

“I’m happy to say we’re only at a total of $8,000 of change orders,” he said, noting its minimal work needed by the general contractor and plumber.

In the coming weeks, Straub noted roughly $5,000 of change orders will be compiled for consideration as well.

“We’re combining a couple of small items with the general contractor that’s probably over a four tfive month period,” he said. “We’ve barely scratched the $540,000 contingency and we’re trying to watch those dollars very closely for the district as we move forward.”

Board member Elisabeth Lynch asked Straub for clarification regarding information shared at the recent facilities meeting from McClure Company, which is conducting research regarding solar panels within the district.

Lynch said, according to representatives from McClure, the roof slant at the new Liberty Curtin may not be conducive for paneling if the district were to have solar installed at the new facility.

Straub said Crabtree was not tasked with looking directly into solar for the building so he didn’t have too much information to offer. However, he noted Crabtree has touched base with McClure.

“McClure has reached out to us and we’re in the process of putting them in touch with our engineering team so we can move forward with that,” he said.

Lynch also asked if a requested list of items that could help cut costs on the project was completed for the board to review.

Straub said Crabtree is not currently working on a list of that nature, noting many of the items such as flooring, roof panels and other items were ordered out in advance of the project. He added Crabtree could look into costs such as furniture if the district requested it.

“If the district wants to look at furniture we’re willing to have those discussions,” he said. “Really we’re at the point where we’re 67 percent done with the project so all materials have been bought out.”

Straub noted, based on direction from the board in the past, Crabtree has consistently been looking for ways to cut costs.

“There really isn’t a lot to take out of the building. There’s a few accents — more paint than anything — but if you walk down the corridors it’s concrete block walls,” he said. “It’s very efficient, very cost effective and will hold up for 30, 40, 50 years.”

The biggest cost savings, he said, comes in the way of not utilizing its contingency funds.

“The big savings brought to the project… is the contingency — not having to spend $500,000-plus in contingency,” he said. “I’ve never had a project that only had $8,000 in change orders. That’s as close to perfect as you get.”

Straub noted the cost of the removal of the existing Liberty Curtin building in the future could cut into that contingency, but noted “essentially you’re saving half a million dollars on this project.”

Superintendent Dr. Frank Redmon noted, regarding Lynch’s question for cost savings, the administration is looking at ways to cut costs on items such as furniture. However, the current items at Liberty Curtin are decades old.

“We’ve been working really hard to determine which furniture would be appropriate to keep and which is not. Most of the furniture that is there is 30 to 40 years old,” Redmon said. “So we’re looking at replacing the older furniture. We’re being as frugal as we can be.”