Representatives of the Lewis Group provided a construction update to the Washington County Board of Education, reporting that demolition on several projects uncovered conditions that required design changes and brief pauses to steel fabrication.

A Lewis Group representative explained crews found structural conditions that "looked like bond beam" but were actually steel elements behind masonry, requiring alterations to how steel headers and supports are fabricated and tied in. The representative said the issues were manageable and that shop drawings and fabrication were being adjusted.

The board also received status updates on HVAC upgrades and surveys. The Lewis Group reported a site survey would be completed on the following Tuesday and that locating underground utilities (including geothermal lines) was a priority before siting new construction. The contractor said the interior soffit and canopy at one building required a lower beam placement than anticipated, which affected routing for sprinkler piping, conduit and data lines.

Board members asked for a fuller discussion of the Daniel Boone High School HVAC design and engineering and agreed to defer that agenda item to the Feb. 25 workshop so the Lewis Group and staff could present more detailed plans and cost estimates. Administrators noted some projects remain on hold pending survey results and committee-level budget review.

No formal contract awards or budget actions were taken at the meeting: the board received the contractor's update, directed staff to schedule the HVAC design discussion at the workshop, and asked the Lewis Group to provide the requested survey and updated construction timelines to staff before the workshop.