ST. JOHN | Lake Central school officials approved a series of construction change orders for the high school and offered praise for the architectural firm involved in the district's long-range remodeling plan.

OWP/P Architects Inc., based in Chicago, was selected earlier this year and recently saved the district about $2,300 by negotiating the price down on plumbing projects currently being done at the high school.

"They did very well for us and are extremely cooperative," Director of Maintenance Larry Wood said. "They're doing a great job. They're at the construction meetings and have worked with local contractors a lot to make sure things were done."

Said School Board member John DeVries: "It speaks well for our future involvement with them," he said.

In all, the School Board approved four change orders totaling nearly $13,800, and range from a broken pipe in a janitor closet, rerouting pipes, replacing a faucet and replacing piping near the main office.

Repair work in the high school around the "A" hallway was added because the area was overlooked during the evaluation process.

The original contract included a budget for unforeseen project items, Wood said.