Schools

Update: Moon Schools Terminates Contract with Middle School Construction Firm

School board member said the contract termination will likely not impact the opening of the renovated middle school.

The terminated its contract with the Ross Township-based Reginella Construction, which served as a main contractor on the district's middle school renovation.

The district's contract with Reginella will now end June 28. The firm was contacted by the district in a June 14 letter that gave notice of the termination. 

District officials could offer no immediate explanation or details on the contract's termination, or how it might affect the district's ongoing middle school construction.

Find out what's happening in Robinson-Moonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Citing the potential for litigation, district solicitor Michael Brungo said school officials "really can't discuss much" about the contract termination or its impact.

"This is a move forward for the district to work with [the performance bond surety] and have things effectively completed [at the renovated middle school] in time for the school year," Brungo said in public comments at the meeting. 

Find out what's happening in Robinson-Moonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The board approved the following motion in a 9-to-0 vote:

"Upon receipt of the architect's letter of June 7, 2012, stating that grounds exist for the termination of Reginella Construction Company for cause, the receipt of Reginela Construction Company's letter of June 11, 2012, stating that it has terminated its contract, and Reginella Construction company's subsequent actions on the site, the Board of Education hereby terminates Reginella Construction company's contract for cause pursuant to Article 14.2 of the General Conditions for the Contract for Construction, effective June 28, 2012. Reginella Construction Company has by letter dated June 14, 2012 from the solicitor's office been provided a seven-day notice of this intent to terminate."

Board member Dennis Harbaugh, who chairs the district's facility committee, said he could not comment on how the contract termination could impact the middle school renovation.

The building is to open for middle school students in grades five through eight in the fall and to be completed by mid-summer. 

Representatives from Reginella and project management firm Eckles Architecture did not attend the meeting.

Reginella could not be reached for comment.

Update: School board member Jeffrey Bussard said the termination of Reginella's contract will likely not impact the opening of the new middle school. 

According to Bussard: 

"Also, I want to state that construction progress on the middle school project continues to proceed. JC Pierce continues to coordinate the project as our construction manager. 

Certainly, like all construction projects, there are last minute issues to be resolved. We had them when we opened the new high school and when we re-opened McCormick. As of today, I am optimistic that the building will be ready for the 2012-13 school year and it will be a building that our district will be very proud of."

Correction: A previous version of this story reported Reginella constructed the district's high school. The firm Nello Construction was involved in the construction of the high school. 

Click here to Like Robinson-Moon Patch on Facebook.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here