The project to build a new middle school for the Baldwin Independent School District (BISD) is near complete. In fact, you plan to do the final walk-through in about two weeks. On a Friday afternoon, you receive a call from the president of the school board, and he mentions that many of the teachers are adamant they need a separate facility where they can conduct in-service trainings. Unfortunately, the president and other school leaders failed to seek feedback from the teachers when creating the project charter.
The president reminds you that this is the start of a long-term relationship, and wants you to overlook any change fees. Given the grand opening date is solidified, he would like for you to confirm that the additional training room can be built without increasing the project's cost.
How do you handle this situation? Do you tell the president to take a hike? Should you try to accommodate the president and other key stakeholders? What if the change fees are explicitly addressed in the contract? Do you have the unilateral power to waive them?