New London — Bids on the largest phase of the $108 million high school construction project have come in at more than $4 million above projected budget estimates.

Combined with escalating costs for construction management, currently more than $14 million, the project is now $5 million beyond what the city can afford and has forced designers to revisit elements of the new school.

Project Manager Diana McNeil, with the Capitol Region Education Council, said the various construction bids for the so-called north campus totaled about $4.2 million over the $77 million budget estimates. A review is underway in order to “value engineer” the project and find areas where costs can be reduced without compromising the quality of the new school and keep it within budget, she said.

A portion of the phased project was expected to begin later this year and continue over the next four years.

“There isn’t a penny to spend beyond the $108 million,” McNeil said. “Every little detail of what is in those contracts is being reviewed.”

The school is already significantly over the original $98 million budget due to multiple changes in the scope and funding sources through the years. There is little left in contingency funds.

A review of bid documents will take place over the coming weeks in hopes of cutting costs and avoiding any further delays in the construction schedule for the school, which already has seen delays since voters approved $168 million in funding for two schools in 2014.

The news on the construction bids, presented to a school building committee on Friday, comes even as the city contemplates adding at least $5 million to the $49 million plan to reconstruct Bennie Dover Jackson Middle School in order to build a new Central Office building for administration. The state recently estimated the Central Office demolition and construction costs to be closer to $8 million, though a representative from the south campus project manager, Colliers, said that figure appears to be high.

It is unclear yet whether portions of the high school project might be rebid or if the COVID-19 pandemic might further affect the construction schedules on either project.

A school building committee on Monday discussed the changes to the high school project, with Board of Education and building committee member Bryan Doughty expressing his frustration. The construction manager for the project is Newfield + Downes.

“I’m just so incredibly disheartened and concerned about this project,” Doughty said. “We haven’t been on budget yet. And you think we can value engineer down to the $108 (million) so we’re on budget or below at some point?”

“We don’t have a choice,” McNeil said. “We’re looking at every single number as an adjustment.”

The south campus addition was debated by the City Council and is expected to come up for discussion and a possible vote at its May 4 meeting.

Meetings related to identifying cost savings in the high school project are ongoing.

Under the current plan to create an all-magnet school district, New London High School and the adjacent Science and Technology Magnet High School of Southeastern Connecticut will be home to high school students in STEM and an International Baccalaureate magnet programs, along with students from grades sixth through 12 in the arts magnet program. The Bennie Dover campus will host middle school students in the STEM and International Baccalaureate programs.

g.smith@theday.com