School district looking for construction consultant

By Oliver Lazenby

The Blaine School District is in need of a management consultant for the final phase of the high school rebuild project and other work funded by a 2015 bond after an unexpected resignation.

Project manager Jim Kenoyer resigned for family reasons, effective June 29, but his absence won’t be difficult to manage, district superintendent Ron Spanjer said at a May 29 school board meeting. Kenoyer worked an average of 16 hours a week on the project and filled a more vital role in the planning and design phases.

District finance manager Amber Porter and facilities supervisor Alan Pomeroy have been involved with managing construction on campus and will continue to be involved, Spanjer said.

“Obviously, Jim was a very valuable resource and he will be missed, but this won’t be a huge change,” Spanjer said.

Rather than hiring a new project manager, the district is looking for a consultant who could offer advice but likely won’t spend much time on site. The change shouldn’t impact the district financially, Spanjer said.

Construction is on schedule and the district will demolish parts of the old high school and construct an interior courtyard around new buildings this summer. The third phase is “in many ways a more straightforward” component than the first two, Spanjer said.