The final bid package containing the majority of construction at Whitefish High School didn’t bring in anticipated savings for the project, which remains over budget.

The recommendation on how to proceed with construction brings the project about a quarter-million dollars over budget.

This portion of the project, which will cover the bulk of new construction and renovation of the school’s B wing, was budgeted at $10,442,987. The bid package the board accepted came in at $10,514,639. It will be allocated among dozens of subcontractors, all operating under the supervision of Langlas and Associates, the project’s general contractor and construction manager.

At its regular meeting Tuesday, the Whitefish school board gave Langlas authorization to proceed according to that bid package.

The package leaves the total project over budget by approximately $267,158, including fees and bonds — a number that is manageable for reaching the $19 million total budgeted for the building, said Bayard Dominick of Steeplechase Advisors, the district’s representative.

“We’re not exactly where I want to be, but I think at the end of the day the team has developed a plan and a cost estimate for us [that] I’m very proud of,” Dominick said.

Before making a recommendation to the board, a budget and oversight committee had discussed a second option on how to proceed with construction.

The alternative option proposed moving what is now referred to as the D wing (foyer, multipurpose room, media room, band and choir rooms) to a list of alternates. This option would have put the budget back in the black but was shot down by the committee, which met before Tuesday’s board meeting.

A contingency fund to cover over-budget expenses has not yet been established, but the recommendation the board accepted included developing a comprehensive plan using tax-increment finance funds and possibly a portion of the furniture, fixtures and equipment budget to cover any shortfall.

Dominick said there are also fundraising opportunities before construction begins next summer.

District Superintendent Kate Orozco said TIF funds are currently divided among capital improvements, “rainy day” needs and professional development in the district.

Board vice chairwoman Ruth Harrison said she would like to see in writing how the TIF funds would be paid back over time, “just to be sure that we aren’t completely altering our intent with regard to TIF money,” she said.

During the budget and oversight committee meeting, community representative and Whitefish City Councilman Richard Hildner voiced his concern about the lack of a contingency fund.

“The optimism of fundraising at this point to meet these needs really is concerning me,” he said.

Most members of the committee expressed their confidence that the project team could achieve more savings through value engineering.

“Langlas has been working tirelessly along with all other engineers in terms of identifying potential value engineering and more efficient ways to put this building together,” Dominick said.

Construction has been scaled back considerably since last fall, when the total project was roughly $1.3 million over budget as plans were altered, square footage was added and projects became alternates to be completed as money becomes available.

In June, the project continued to change when the decision was made to retain a foyer area in front of the gym rather than tearing it down to build a hallway, which contributed to a total potential savings in the D wing of about $244,939.