November 18, 2025 RTSD School Board Business Meeting

00118, 2025. And welcome all of our attendees. Um, we're going to start with the pledge of allegiance. Please join us. >> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Thank you all very much. I know you're all here to see the Ethan bid approval presentation. Uh I'm going to start with a report on executive sessions. Uh the board met I missed my The board met on Tuesday, November 11th, 2025 to discuss a potential legal matter with a district contractor. And the board met again on Tuesday, November 18th, 2025 to discuss a personnel matter about a district professional employee. Next item on the agenda is the report from our superintendent. >> Good

002evening. It's good to see everyone. Uh my report goes on for about an hour and then we'll get to the recognitions. Oh my gosh, the stress in the front row here. I'm teasing. I'll be very quick. Uh it's great to see everyone. It's and I'm excited tonight to uh be recognizing so many of our athletes and our students tonight. Uh so very quickly, a few uh updates for the board and community. Just one on our agenda tonight. We have a very generous donation um from the Ethan uh PTO. I just want to thank them. It really does take our entire community to support our schools and our community is is always so generous uh in what they do to support our schools. So, thank you to the ETH and PTO. Uh inclement weather and remote

003learning plan. There's an email that will be going out to families uh this week um just as a update and let everyone know how um we're going to be handling inclement weather. And actually students, this is, you know, unfortunately the high school students aren't going to be thrilled about this plan, but um uh it's actually for the high school, it's pretty much the same as it's been. Uh for the elementary level, we won't have any more uh remote learning days when we have inclement weather. Um we average about two snow days a year when you look, you know, when you look back. So it's just two to three snow days we average. uh we've realized that at the elementary level there's a lot of challenges to getting especially our young elementary students uh online and

004working remotely. So we are no longer going to do online learning uh for inclement weather at the elementary school. We also have plenty of instructional time. So yes, a couple parents who have young kids. I saw smiles in the audience. Um for at the secondary level at the middle school and high school, it will continue to be what it has been. And that is a combination of you may have a snow day, you may have a remote learning day. It depends on the storm. It depends on the timing. You know, when we're two days after break and all a sudden we're getting inclement weather, that's sometimes a good day for the high school to be remote. We can continue with the learning and, you know, keep things going. When we get a real good snowstorm,

005though, I think everybody uh deserves a good snow day. Uh the reality is though at the high school level we're only going to have one to two snow days. That would be our our range and then all would be remote if we go beyond that. And at the middle school level we may only have up to three to four snow days and then we'd be remote after that. But the first day at the middle school and high school could be remote or snow and that's the way it's been the last few years. The difference will be that our elementary kids, you know, will be off on those days. So there will be a little different at levels. So community will be getting an email this week explaining that and like everything involving snow days there

006will be people who will be happy and there people who have concerns and questions and I understand that. Um, moving on. Uh, we don't, uh, Katie's not with us tonight, our student presenter. Um, you know, had a had a conflict this evening. Uh, but shared with us last week the excitement for LM week and and all that went was involved with that. And just like to congratulate with all the kids here, just the involvement of all of our students. Uh, that pep rally was one of the most spirited pep rallies with a um just a a a wonderful uh diverse talent. um all the different kids who were involved and students involved uh in all the different aspects of it from the dancing from the performances uh every piece of it was really exciting and

007it was a very exciting week and thank Dr. Mack and the whole high school team uh and the adviserss for LM week for all that they did to make that possible and and all of you the students for for making that such a fun week. Um we also celebrated recently in all of our buildings uh Veterans Day and it's really a nice tribute uh to see in our district that um kindergarten soup through 12th grade uh the different celebrations that happen uh to recognize our veterans and again our community uh support that we receive in those celebrations at at each level. Um we had Mrs. Ruticil at the high school uh speaking to the students and at the high school recognizing our veterans that work here in the district and you could have heard a

008pin drop uh with all of our students sitting in the gymnasium uh for that presentation and for that assembly. Uh so I just want to thank the staff for that. And then Dr. Babson, Dr. Bson, this is Dr. Babson's uh last night on the school board. Um uh for those of you in the audience, schoolboard members, I love asking students, especially the elementary and middle school, but you know, how much money does a school board member make? Um you know, they're volunteers. Uh school board members run for election and volunteer. Uh they volunteer to give back to the community. The reason we meet in the evening is because they can they all have other jobs, other responsibilities. Um and board members run to give back to the community to help um obviously for you the

009students for the education for our program. It's a lot of time. It's a lot of energy. It's a four-year term when they run. Um and Dr. Bapsson uh has has served has has come to a conclusion of his term and and uh we want to just spend a moment tonight just to thank you. Thank you uh uh Dr. Bapsson for your service. Thank you for um your passion for education, you know, as a uh as a professor working at uh the collegiate level uh with education being your wheelhouse. Um you know, what you have contributed uh through our curriculum committee and through other committees uh has been very much appreciative appreciated and we are going to miss you. Uh as I tell other board members as they leave, you know, you're still in the community.

010Um you know, we we welcome you back and uh you know, be careful. we might sign you up for some committees or other things to help with. Um, but on behalf of the entire board of the administration, uh, thank you for your service and we have a gift for you. >> Yeah. >> Do you want to say anything? >> I I do. First, I I forgot to mention that the empty seat is for U. M. Rosen Bloom who has an excused absence this evening. Sometimes we have people participating remotely, but that's not the case this evening. Um I won't I'm going to keep it short because I know all of you don't want to hear me wax poetic, but um Andrew, you and I have been working together for nine years because we spent a

011year campaigning um the year before we joined the board. And uh you know, you spend enough time with someone campaigning and you run out of things to talk about. So, I can tell you that Andrew and I were born a few weeks apart at Chester County Hospital in 1974. Um, we really got into the details. Um, and over the years, I think that's really done um quite a service to us and to the board. Um, you know, knowing each other as well as we have and and spending that kind of time to together has been really wonderful. For the first couple years, we rode home every night every time after board meetings and, you know, kind of decompressed and and talked about everything for a good half hour, hour in front of your house. and

012it it this is a friendship that I have really valued. Um I think that's that's one of the other perks of serving on the board. You do make good friends and and meet other people in the community. So I have really appreciated the thoughtful way and I think the rest of the board has too that you approach everything that we do. Um you you no no issue is a snap decision for you. there's a lot of thought that goes into it um on whatever committee you serve on and on the full board and we will miss that deliberation and that uh really detailed thoughtfulness. So, thank you so much for all you've done and and we do hope you will come back. Uh some former board members do come back and hold us to account

013and you are welcome. I know you can catch a ride with him. Uh he's probably watching this evening. He just laughed. So anyway, thank you very much and uh don't be a stranger. >> I just want to thank Grant and Isabelle for sharing with you you with us for the last eight years. It's a commitment. This is a commitment that requires family support and your two children have missed a lot of Tuesday nights with you and so thank you Grant and Isabelle for sharing your dad and um you get him back now. >> Did you want to say anything before I move into recognitions? >> Sure. Uh just a few a few remarks. I didn't prepare anything. Um but you know it is dangerous when you give a academic a microphone. So, watch out. Uh,

014but no, I'll keep it brief. Um, you know, people often say, boy, you know, school board, that's a that's a thankless job, you know. Um, but in my case, and I do think I speak for many school board members that, uh, this is really good work. It's really significant work. Um, you get to meet people that are very dedicated, uh, experts in their fields. Here in Rder, we are really spoiled for choice. Uh there's really just excellence all over the place uh from top to bottom in our district, all the staff, administration. Um and having worked in in many parts of the country and the world, I can tell you that Rner really does stand apart in many ways. Uh what we have going here in this community, uh we should all be very thankful

015and lucky for it. Um, and I've just had the distinct pleasure to work with really outstanding people on the board um, over these past years. And um, boy, I I could probably spend an hour just talking about the specific contributions of each person and the kinds of relationships that we have have built over the years. So, um, I will just say that um, that that finally it has really been a distinct pleasure and honor um, to be on the school board here and um, and I will miss it. I will miss you. Thank you. >> And then my final slide is just the upcoming events. Uh we have a busy uh December and January. I just wanted to share that with the board and the community. Uh and that concludes the super tense remarks. I

016know our next on our agenda um are our recognitions. And just before we move into our recognitions, I just want to say to the to the students uh and and to the parents that are here, first off to the student athletes and everyone being recognized tonight, especially um we have we have also won for a an essay which she'll have a chance to share as well, but um for the student athletes, uh you know, we are very lucky at Rner. You know, we we see district championships, we see state championships. I got to tell you, they're really rare. It's really rare to be at a high school where a team wins districts and then goes to the state championships. Um it's it's really impressive. So to you the students um uh really impressive all the

017hard work that goes into uh these accomplishments. Uh it's a lot of dedication and you make us all very proud. There's a lot of hard work behind the scenes. There's a lot of soreness. There's a lot of getting up early in the morning. There's been a lot of sports year round uh activities. So, thank you for just making us so proud. And to the parents, uh I have a little idea about how much it it involves all of you and all of you from a young age to now. Uh and while it's exciting to see them, uh do so well, it's also takes a lot of car pooling and a lot of uh family time and a lot of commitment. So, just like to congratulate all of you and we're excited to get to the

018uh to the recognitions. >> Thank you very much. Uh the first item on the agenda, Dr. Dr. Babson asked to do one last recognition. That was before we told him there were no pronunciation cheat sheets for the names, so be kind. Uh if he messes up your name, he's going to do his best. Uh this is the uh recognition for the Rner High School Varsity Girls Soccer District 1 3A champions and PIAA Class 3A state championship runnerup. Dr. Robinson, can I just interrupt while you're getting settled? When he calls your name, if you would come up and form a semicircle from end to end of the deis, and at the end, you'll go out into the lobby and you'll get your certificates and get a picture. Okay. Thanks. >> Y and Dad, you can get

019pictures outside, too. You get one in here, but you get pictures in the lobby. Okay. Congratulations to the RHS girls soccer team for an outstanding season 195 and one that culminated in the PIAA state championship game where they earned a silver medal. In a strong showing against South Fiat High School, the team fell in the last 15 minutes with a final score of 3 to1. In an exciting win over Strath Haven, the team took the district 13A championship one- nothing in the final minute of overtime. In a game riddled with overturn calls in the final moments of overtime, a shot by junior Kira Mukavage bounced off the crossbar but found junior Camila Deontis waiting to tap it in. And again, apologies in advance for any um faulty pronunciations. Thank you. The team also captured the

020Central Athletic League championship for the first time since 2001. Led by senior captains Ryan Erdle, uh, Franchesca Lucesy, and Mave Mukavage, the team capped off a thrilling season with a dramatic 2 to1 overtime victory against Havford. This was Rner's third CL title overall with previous championships in 2000 and 2001. So, I'm going to read uh names from seniors down to um juniors, sophomores, and freshmen. And again, if you could just come over this way and form a line starting there. Thanks. Okay, so seniors, uh, Sophie Breer, Tatum Brown, Kayla Kayla Cormier, Margot Ernst, Ryan Erdle, Vivian Justice, Anna Lavine, Francesca Lucasi, Maddie Lynn, Mave Mukavage, Anna Regger, And the last of the seniors, Madison Rosenfeld. Okay, we now move on to the juniors. Alexa Cahill, Camila Deontis, Olivia Efron, Natalyia Araso, Avery Erdle, Bridget Hickey,

021Quinland McGee, Natalie Mariam, Kira Mavage, Arabella Steel, Lisa Stra, and final junior Annie Tulone. And we have sophomores Reese Brown, uh, Elsa Gilmore, Sor McCrae, Ellie Rubin, and then we have two freshmen, Ella Gorbin, and Charlotte Wickham. Okay, let's let's have uh we have team manager Odrina Leon and the team is led by head coach Jake Soldich and assistant coaches Diana Anders, Fabio Bevela, Caroline Heath, and Jim Mkins. Okay. So, the superintendent along with the board and the rounded community congratulates these students, their parents and coaches on their outstanding accomplishments. Well done. >> Okay. So, now uh proceed outside and um get pictures. We'll do pictures and certificate in the lobby. >> Certificates. >> Thank you. Okay, not to be outdone, we have some other folks who want some recognitions this evening. And we want

022to recognize, let me I should have said it that way. Uh the RHS golf team state championship runner up. And we have Mrs. Duffy on this announcement. Actually, she's going to do the next two. >> Yes. I I wanted to take this. I know some of these boys personally and I know how dedicated they have been to working on their craft. So, it gives me great privilege and pride to make this announcement. The res golf team concluded their 2025 season with an outstanding showing at the PIAA state golf championship, finishing second place as a team after recording a total of 287 strokes, just one stroke behind Unionville, which scored 286. The showing at states capped off an outstanding season in which the team was the undefeated Central League championship with an 11-0 record and the

023PIAA District 1 team championship runnerup. The team also fielded several individual Central League, District, and state championship qualifiers. I'm going to list I'm going to call everyone up and if you'd come and join us up here just like the soccer team. Seniors Lannon Boyd I'll shake your hand. Elena Finelli, Mr. Jack Fleming, Alex Con. Brad McDermott and Sean Mutler juniors. Will Antic Will Crother Jackson Sydney and Drew Reirden. >> Sophomores Sarah Finelli runs in the family, right? Xanderloo, Ryan McDermott, another in the family. John Payeyton and freshman Sebastian Leon, Michael Manzy, family team. Thomas Manzy B. McKenzie, Sally Peg, and Gavin Reie. Congratulations. The team is led by Coach Andy Aenbach and assistant coach Drew Rearen. Hey, good to see you, Andy. We also um want to give special recognition to um two seniors. Congratulations

024to Elena Finelli and Lannon Boyd for meddling at the 2025 PIAA Class 3A Golf Championship. Elena Finelli carded rounds of 7673 which earned her a tied fifth place finish and her first state medal. Her four birdie back nine score of 34 propelled her to the top 10 team podium. Lannonboy improved on his day one score of 71 74 by shooting an even par round of 72. Lannon earned a tied ninth place finish and a state medal. The superintendent along with the board and the Rner community congratulates these students, their parents, and the coaches on their outstanding accomplishment. Wasn't the best we champions for the best. We have one more wonderful recognition this evening and that is for RMS 8th grader Sophie Mance who placed first in the DCIU essay contest and I think Miss Stern

025is going to read your recognition but come on up Sophie. That's fine. >> Welcome. >> So I think what I'll do is I'll read your recognition and then my understanding is that Sophie is going to read her award-winning poem which would be lovely. Welcome. >> Congratulations to Sophie Mance for playing first placing first in the 2025 DCIU Veterans Day essay contest. The theme of this year's contest was honoring the sacrifice of veterans who served during World War II. Sophie's essay on the Tuskegee Airmen told the story of Airman and Radner resident Luther H. Smith and his heroic actions during the war. 2025 marks the 80th anniversary of World War II. Sophie was invited to read her essay during the Veterans Day ceremony in media on November 11th. Um the superintendent along with the board and

026the Rner community congratulates Sophie, her parents, and her teacher, Mr. Ecterno, on her outstanding accomplishment. I apologize. My father's 98th birthday was yesterday, and he served in World War II if my father were still alive. So, it's very touching to me tonight. So Sophie, congratulations and I look forward to hearing your your essay. >> 2025 marks the 80th year anniversary since over 16 million proud Americans risked and sacrificed their lives for our country. A courageous group of young men who were not afraid to serve their country despite the obstacles thrown at them were the Tuskegee Airmen. The Tuskegee Airmen were the first African-American military aviators in the United States Armed Forces. These men were trained at the Tuskegee Army Airfield in Tuskegee, Alabama, and completed 1,578 combat missions during World War II. At the time,

027racial segregation was still the law in the US. But the Tuskegee Airmen paved the way for the end of segregation in the military and served as an inspiration for the generations of young African-American men and women to come. One specific airman who lived locally in my hometown of RER, PA, was named Luther H. Smith, and his story is remarkable. Luther was a pilot with the 332nd Fighter Group and he flew 133 combat missions during World War II. On his final mission, his plane was shot down flying over Yugoslavia and he was forced to parachute down from the burning plane. He was then captured and he spent seven months as a prisoner of war in Germany. Smith retired in 1947 from active service and earned a degree in engineering from the University of Iowa. He went

028on to work as an aerospace engineer for 37 years. In 2007, he and about 300 original Tuskegee Airmen were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, honoring their legacy and inspiration to the world. Luther H. Smith passed away in 2009 in Villanova, Pennsylvania at age 89. Although he is no longer with us, his legacy lives on and continues to empower and motivate people today. Thank you very much, Sophie. That was very nice. Uh, next item on the agenda is the uh public comment period. So, if we have anyone in the sorry, in watching everybody move around. Um, if we have anyone in the audience who's here to make a public comment this evening, we will entertain those. At this time you just need to give your name and community town you live in. Do we have any

029recorded public comment? Okay. Uh then I think we'll move on to the report from board committees. First one is curriculum. Dr. Babson. >> Okay. So the the BCC as we call it the board curriculum committee was asked to review eight overnight student trips. Uh Dr. Kernney shared information on the personal finance requirement being implemented at the high school. Mr. Beal gave an update on district enrollment trends. Um the next meeting will is scheduled for Tuesday, December 9th at 5:00 pm. I will not be chairing that meeting, but perhaps uh Vice Chair Liz Duffy will be in mystead. Thank you. >> Thank you, Dr. Babson. The next item on the agenda is the facilities committee. Mrs. Duffy. >> Yes. The facilities commit committee met last Tuesday and they um reviewed the um presentation that we're going

030to see tonight. So, um stay tuned. >> Great. And the finance committee, Miss Solomon. >> Thank you. Finance committee met on Tuesday, November 11th. Um, we reviewed the contracts for technology which are on your agenda tonight. Um, again I also want to thank the Ethan PTO for their generous generous contribution to the district. We um received a presentation about the budget calendar for but for the state that we must comply with. Um, we also received information about the act one index and there is a resolution to um keep our district at or below the act one index for the budget year next year and the act one index again is going to be 3.5%. Um, we've also received information about the bond series and our next meeting will be in January, January 13th at 5:00

031p.m. Thank you, Mrs. Solomon. And with that, we reach the priority discussion and action item of our agenda. Um, we'll be looking for approval of the district is looking for approval of advertising and bidding for the construction of the new Ethan Elementary School. Uh, the recommended action is that the board authorizes advertising and bidding for the construction of the new elementary school. Um, the administration recommends approving plans and specifications to be released for public bidding as they relate to building the new elementary school. May I have a motion? >> So moved. >> Thank you, Dr. Babson. And a second. Second. >> Thank you, Mrs. Duffy. Um, with that, I think we're going to entertain a presentation from u our architect, and it's Braslin Figyard. I always get the Brelin Architects is fine. Thank you for

032joining us this evening. Steve Barren is our lead architect on this project. get the full name. >> Okay. So, you have everything you need. >> Yes. >> Okay. Great. Now, just tell me before you start. I I know most board members should have seen this. This presentation was available to the public last week in more general form and I know board members were able to see it from the facilities committee. Would you prefer we hold questions till you get to a certain point? Is that easiest if we >> um that that's fine. >> Okay. >> Yeah. Great. >> Um but but certainly if there's uh pressing questions I'll I can pause with each different phase and >> Okay. I think it it would be helpful, I think, if the board could, you know, you can

033note on your screen what the slide number is. So, if you have questions, maybe make a note of the slide number, but let's try to get through it all as a whole and and then come back because I think it is a somewhat dense presentation. Thank you. >> Sure. >> Yeah. And and administratively, uh we've met and we asked Mr. Barren since so much the information in this PowerPoint, this is a very large presentation. uh we've seen many forms of this presentation uh now over uh many months uh different aspects of it. Uh we felt it was important that we left the presentation in its entirety. We spent time with it at facilities last month but we asked Mr. Barons for tonight to really uh summarize, you know, spend 15 minutes giving what is, you

034know, a summary, 15 20 minutes of the entire presentation. So, we could then move right to board questions and then board questions could dictate the rest of the discussion if that makes sense with everyone. >> Yes, there is some kind of awkward beeping noise and it's going to drive me nuts. >> It's emanating from the laptop here. I'm not sure how to get rid of that. No, no, it's more No, it's like a repeated >> It might come through the mic, but I'm not sure. >> Yes, I'm sure it is coming. >> We can ask maybe Ian can come and he'll come out. We get started and he made me come out and help see if there's something with the hookup. >> Oh, yeah. It's driving me nuts. I was wetting that I'm finished. >>

035No, it started I think when he plugged in the computer. >> So, I I'll just say um >> Oh, was that >> okay? I I'll just I'll just say in the meantime that it's hard to overstate uh the thrill of being here at this point in time with this project. We have this presentation that does show the the uh really the history in its entirety and um it's just very exciting to be here, very exciting to see the students as well and all those recognitions. Um I certainly was writing some names down for our next golf scramble to but um some of those scores were unbelievable. Anyway, so um again a a pleasure to be here and to to be at this point in in the process of of the project. So indeed the recommended

036action for November is um the authorization for the administration to release to bid the uh documents for the new Ethan Elementary School. And um we're we're noting the February board business meeting as well, which is when we would expect to be back with those bid results um with with the analysis thereof to um hopefully make a recommendation to be moving into the award of contracts of the project. This is the overall schedule that we've been tracking and we're right now about um halfway down there on the 18th of November and um the items above have are are are concluded and and we look forward to the items below as the mile major milestones including um the work beginning and upcoming uh facilities committee presentations and board meetings um relative to the projects. continuing uh progress.

037So this this is a this is a the same presentation as as the facilities committee. So I'll go through it with um a little bit faster cadence but um still uh bringing up the key relevant topics that were explored with each of the five phases that you see on the uh on the screen. And so this represents the timeline of the project that that really began its genesis was back in February of 2022 with the feasibility study stage of the process and that lasted from February 2020 to June of 22. And the uh the major uh activities and goal of that process was an assessment of the district facilities studies to analyze the conditions, the capacity, the programming elements of all of the district instructional and and support facilities. And then that that um concluded

038in June of 2022 with a a presentation and a a recommendation for a full replacement of Ethan Elementary School. Some of the slides. So just just a quick note if you see text on the far left of the slide this is these are actually slides that are pulled out of those presentations with that that were part of in most cases the the board presentation and the approval. So this was an example of the assessment scorecards that were made for each of the school facilities different as part of the construction options for for the the buildings. Um there are examples like this um that that were prepared to at a very high level um describe the potential construction options. We pulled out two options relative to Ethan and the one was uh option three which ultimately

039did receive approval but option three was the option of constructing a new building adjacent to the existing building while the uh the building remain occupied and functioning as a school. Option four was an option that looked at a replacement on the footprint of the existing elementary school. The the the new building is larger, so it wouldn't have fit completely on that existing footprint. And so we developed a a that the size of the building was uh developed as a preliminary program here that's summarized on this slide and uh culminated in the development of 112,000 square foot new building. And so out of that came the um construction options, the pros and cons of each and ultimately the board decision to move forward with option three which was the um construction of a new Ethan Elementary

040School adjacent to the existing building. And then that allowed us to move into the programming phase where we looked more carefully at the over a period of of several months at the the the the detailed programming of the building and and what was needed to satisfy the educational needs. And part of that was the introduction of monthly steering committee meetings, the uh actually bi-weekly meetings with the administration group, field trips to see existing buildings, and the the the work associated with determining the site location on the existing property, the building size and the budget. And so we have a few slides to show this was the steering committee. It was an advisory group that uh that included stakeholders um as as are described here, a really good broad cross-section of of the community to to

041delve into the the design and assist on a on a regular basis. Part of that phase was site due diligence activities which um really looked specifically at all of the factors needed to evaluate um the uh the conditions of the site and uh laying the groundwork for the design of the site. While we had developed the option three and and that was approved, we still took time to analyze where on the site the building would be best positioned and and looked at actually five different options for it. Those were developed and um expanded to look at the different shape of the building, how it would respond to those different locations on the site and eventually zeroed in on the location where uh the the design has developed. But then even within that looked at um

042what what has become known as the key concept based on the shape of the building or a courtyard scheme and then studied that um in terms of the the the sun angles and and how it was oriented on the site and then looked at the pros and cons of each option. And ultimately um the the key concept advanced as the as the most economical and um an effective uh floor plan for the building for numerous reasons. And then from there with the approval of the building programming we moved into the schematic design phase that was between May 2023 and October. Again the steering committee continued to meet. There were multiple board meetings and administration meetings to show the further development of the design. At that time, site logic was uh engaged as the construction manager

043to assist with the the further development of the design and cost estimations and constructibility analysis. the civil engineer um provided uh support in the areas of the due diligence that were really coming to fruition at that time. And and and meetings continued at which we uh looked at at the key elements that we wanted the design to address and and really evaluated that carefully. And as as this this design satisfied those uh those parameters and then looked um at the site itself and the coverage of the site by the school, what space was left on the site for amenities that support the educational program, outdoor activities. This um I probably sound uh repetitive on this point, but I've said it many times. It's a just one of the most beautiful sites that that I've encountered

044for a school building in my career. And so there was a lot of effort to talk about how to leverage the uh the beauty of the site um to enhance the educational delivery and experience for for students on the site. And then we compared the the new uh building to the existing elementary schools in the district and analyzed the various uh support components um the multi-purpose room and instructional music and art and all the the special uh activities that support the uh the the classroom instruction. And then we even looked at different massing options for roof lines of the building and and so forth and how how it again would would fit into the site with this walkout basement scheme as we've been calling it with a twotory uh rear side to the building to

045engage the site and then a a single story on the uphill side facing the parking lot. And then we looked at the uh the schematic design of the floor plan. So this starts to look very carefully at the adjacencies of different program elements within the buildings, their relative size and location. And then we even developed early on some very photorealistic renderings of given that the challenge of the of the lower level um having uh one exposure to the to the outdoors and to natural light. We looked very carefully on the impact of that and how to leverage views for um and and daylighting for those those lower level classrooms. We explored the sustainability and renewable energy goals of the project. That was important to do early on so they could be integrated effectively into the

046design. And then we even set set some goals there on the bottom uh relative to the percentages of of those various items and incorporated this list of key elements as well as others into the design. And then as the uh as as site logic and and the design team evaluated um the cost further, we developed some potential cost reduction and value engineering options to make sure that um that the program was being brought in line with um with from a fiscal responsibility standpoint. And then with the approval of the schematic design, that's again where the basic shape and size and and floor plan of the building um was approved, we moved into design development. This was a much more lengthy phase from October of 2023 to June of 2024 where we really started to dig

047into the the details of each individual space within the building. You'll see the number of meetings here expanded. We brought in a lot of stakeholders um from from the the at the building level and um as well as the community had had several community meetings throughout the process. This was actually the fifth one in in the design development phase and again across the the uh scope of three schoolboard meetings presented the uh progress of the schematic design or I'm sorry the design development and that was when we we're engaging the details of the mechanical systems the MEP systems Mr. Morris and his team got very involved in in the goals for operation and maintenance of the facility and um looked at a lot of details there that are enumerated in this slide all the way

048down to the furniture and and storage and technology within the building. And uh we continue to develop the the site plan. At this time, we we as part of the value engineering uh exercise, we looked at um the possibility of including a maintenance department on on the lower space on the lower level of the building. And then we looked very carefully at that that Robert's road connection, you'll remember, and and decided that um that the that the value wasn't there for the project on those on those items. And so they were the site scope of work was scaled back and a new um site plan developed that um ended up um with this with this layout where um we included a smaller access to the lower level maintenance uh and utility and mechanical spaces to

049the building and eliminated that that Robert's Road connection. But the rest of the site um with its site circulation for separating a bus and car traffic really enhances dramatically um the the site circulation on the site compared to the existing building. And then in that phase we looked very carefully. These are just two examples of how we enlarged the floor plans of each individual space and looked at how um everything all the instruction and all the storage and all the support elements within that those spaces would be would be um developed further in the construction document phase. This is just another example of the analysis and the the the um representation of that to facilitate board decision making relative to some of those decisions about um value engineering and cost reductions and then compared uh

050the analysis in detail relative to the existing buildings and then enumerated uh the reductions in the square footage of the building in detail and how we could still accomplish the uh the the the programmatic goals of the building in in through that analysis. And then we included again more uh re photorealistic renderings of the impact of some of the reductions of vision glass and different elements within the design to allow for really informed decision making with respect to those value engineering options. And then with that culminating in the approval of the design development in June of 2024, we moved into the uh nuts and bolts of the construction document phase which again the density of meetings even increases more. And if if you if you sum total the number of meetings in that uh in

051that phase, it's impressive to see the level of of stakeholder involvement. the um multiple facilities committee uh board meetings and schoolboard meetings and administrative meetings to uh to really finalize all the details of the design. That was uh just about a year-long process. And when we talk about construction documents, we're talking about the the documents that will be put out to bid that will um uh describe the construction of the building such that the uh that the bids can be calculated. And um during that phase, we also addressed and incorporated a myriad of of review comments and meetings from the authorities having jurisdiction over the project and continued through fine-tuning of the building and site design. And then we also um incorporated into this phase the development of a couple of separate bid packages which

052you'll remember more recently there was a temporary HVAC project that um allowed us to uh knowing that we were going to have to replace the geothermal system of this. We wanted to get get in in position with temporary mechanical equipment to support that system going offline. the early demolition of the of the adjacent house properties, the temporary playground project, and um as part of the agenda tonight, the um approval of an early tree removal project. So all things that were part of the scope of work were included in the in the project budget but because of the uh the some of the uh extension of time associated with the authority approvals use utilizing that time effectively to advance certain aspects of the project. And then so just some examples of of the construction documents. They

053uh they get very detailed in terms of all of the elements of the design relative to the site. This is this is the the layout of the of the site plan. And that's just representative of dozens of of pages relative to the site design. This is an architectural floor plan drawing that uh it these now get enlarged to the point where it's broken up into several pieces across multiple sheets with all of the dimensions and details and notations associated with um telling the contractors what they need to know to to build the building. These are the building elevations that describe the vertical elements of the facades. drawings that are included that describe the floor pattern um that that's to be developed as part of the uh construction. And then all along the way, we've um

054we've provided and updated where necessary um some of the the renderings so that you could continue to visualize the project effectively with the exterior renderings. This is the multi-purpose room uh of the building. That was the exterior. This is the interior of the space. Really, really excellent renderings to give you a sense of what uh different spaces will look like. We also are sensitive to the culture associated with the existing building and trying to bring over some elements that um that were part of the um part of the amenities of that building into the into the design. some of the some of the murals that are on display and were were crafted for the existing building. We're moving over to the new one, finding appropriate uh places to display those. Even the playground went through

055an extensive design uh process with very detailed imagery and drawings to to depict um what what so to help with the decision- making and depict the final product. So, a few more interior renderings here of the of the lobby as you would enter the building and uh the reverse angle looking out through those tall glass windows to the landscape. The design again really effectively leverages the beauty of the site and perspective of the main entrance approach. Car drop off on the left, buses on the right hand side. This would be the uh the view as visitors would approach the building from the parking lot. Going around back, you see the uh the twotory uh facade of the building. And this is a great view to see all the incorporation of accessibility uh components within the

056building, integrating those directly into the design in a in a very um smooth and effective way. enlargement of the courtyard and the library which is up on the upper level there and the art room below and the outdoor classroom which is going to be an exciting opportunity again to take advantage of of that grade change um on the site in an effective way for instruction and uh view of the kindergarten wing. This is the uh again a spot where you can see that the twotory effect of managing the site. Cafeteria with its tall glass. The real signature space will be the library with wraparound floor to ceiling glass. A lot of innovative spaces in the building. This is the innovation design studio that will will support the uh um technology and STEM education and science

057curriculum. This is the art room that looks out directly uh to the to the site. Here's just a typical classroom and really showing again the effective use of the courtyard and that key floor plan shape to to introduce a lot of opportunities for windows and natural lighting. And then with that we have a animation to show. This is approaching the building along the LA of trees between the car drop off and the bus drop off area towards the main entrance of the building. And the facade of the multi-purpose room includes natural stone local to the area. We're passing along the car drop off area down towards the kindergarten playground. We'll see in the foreground and you see the slope down to the twotory side of the building and a bird's eyee view of the site.

058Landscaping was carefully considered and the the design of the playgrounds. And in the foreground is a just a large open uh recess and and physical education field that conceals storm water detention basins underneath. As we pass here, we can look into those those courtyards that bring the bring the landscape into the uh the within reach of all the classroom spaces and the the lobby. and the circulation pathways within the building. You can see that outdoor classroom again and the accessibility path down from the upper level to the exterior. Passing around, we see the loading dock area of the building, safely hidden out of uh out of pedestrian traffic. And then as we look we can see the ample parking and bus drop off area. And then on the left hand side is um a a

059multi-port athletic facility that is also accessed by a ramp for accessibility. As we circle back around to this view towards the main entrance, you see the see the multi-purpose room volume again and then head into inside the building to the lobby view and some interior renderings. Well, thank you for that opportunity to run through and uh again very excited to see us uh getting to the point where we're looking to to after all this work to to put the project out to bid and and and see some of these beautiful renderings become reality. So at this time we can open it up for questions and discussion. >> Thank you very much Mr. Barren. I really appreciate it. Um I know there people who are on the uh facilities committee probably had a chance to ask

060their questions last week. Um so I'd rather start with the other board members if people have questions but I'll >> we're all set on that. How about down here? >> Okay. Go ahead, Mrs. Stern. >> Um, so thank you for that. Um, a couple of notes just kind of looking at the actually the video. Um, which reminded me of a couple of things. Um, at some point along the way, um, when you were doing some of the value engineering, there was a conversation about having a storm water management What? What? And it's going to be above ground >> retention basin. You were talking >> retention basin. >> Correct. What's What's the status of that? Is it above ground at this point? >> Um so there we the value engineering was associated with um taking some

061of the detention basins and putting them underground. So the the the large detention basin that's underneath that field that I pointed out that was originally looked at to be a surface basin open and then through that through that design process that was designed as an underground detention basin. So there there is a um another basin further away from you know the student activity in in the in the corner of the on the uphill side that that that it remains open. But it but it's fenced in and safely protected >> where where when you say uphill >> um on the other side of the bus loop, >> right? So I didn't see that depicted in this updated presentation and and the reason >> it's there. Yeah. >> Go back to the >> Yeah. So I would

062be remiss if I didn't introduce my colleagues. So with me is Julian Pelicanakis, the project architect and Mr. Damon Spar from uh from Site Logic. So they may jump up and and and correct me as needed. But >> is it is it possible for you I know it's hard to replay the whole thing, but if you could scroll back a little bit because I I remember the maintenance >> area. I'm going to go back to the to the site plan. >> No, I was hoping to see it depicted in the video and if I have to watch the video afterward, that's okay. >> Do you want to Should we roll the video again? No, no, no. Don't spend three minutes. But my my point was that >> there's So, this is a good example. This

063was going to be another one of my questions if you want to go back to a couple of pictures right there. I think it was page 48. >> My my >> I see where you've depicted that the retention basin would be open. It's that green square. >> Right. Okay. >> I think you were right on 41. Some of our numbers don't match, I think. So, >> all right. >> Yeah, it's this. So I'm you had the red lines there a moment ago. >> Yes, I'm sorry. Yeah, that >> yes. So what is the change? >> So the change was we introduced more wall and less vision panel window. >> So this is a picture that if I looked at the presentation a previous in a previous iteration >> where it's in red right now it

064was glass. >> Right. >> Thank you. So, so this is an example that was done broadly throughout. >> No, I knew that I just >> and the idea was to demonstrate that it doesn't really um affect the design the design goal which is to allow views out through the through the windows. >> Okay. Thank you. Thank you for that. So, this was there was kind of a couple of global questions about the changes. Um I and the reason I was asking about the surface retention basin >> is that I didn't see it depicted in the aerial view >> the the overview. Okay. And so I'll go back and yeah look and see if I can see that. I'm not a fan of that. So I guess my question is in the bid documents. Can we

065put in a bid alternate to put all of the retention basins underground? >> Um we don't have that luxury at this time. So th that decision was made and the um land development uh design and approvals are are based on the design as it stands. So we we looked at the pros and cons and >> and decided during that value engineering phase that we there was a there was a a strong argument for putting that um recess field if you want to call it that um the the storm water management underneath that because then that creates play space on top of it. And so there was a use a better use for that for that area. So that so that the additional cost associated with that that did increase the cost of the project that

066there was a really strong value for doing that. Uh the decision was made at that time to not um do that for the other basin which was a little bit further a field not sort of in the eb and flow of of traffic or use of the site. And so the design of this of the land development process moved forward on that basis and and our approval is on that basis. It requires a whole another calculation and and um and approval to to change that at this point which would delay the project. >> Yeah, I think we're going to regret that. >> Do you recall? >> I I don't off the top of my head. >> It was a money. >> It's six figures. It's substantial. It was substantial. I think we're going to regret

067it. I think we're not I know I'm not going to like looking at that. And I I mean I said this isn't a surprise. I said that a year ago. I just didn't see it depicted in the updated video. So I will go back and look at that for myself. And then um I mentioned this in the um I mentioned this in the steering committee meeting that we had a few days ago and I I'm just going to raise it again now because I think it's important for people to understand the mural's not coming over to the new building in the picture where they show the mural. It's not the mural. It's a it's in the in and I just think we should be really clear about that that it's not we're if you looked

068at that picture if you could go back to it. >> Yeah. >> And I know there's reasons. I just think we should be really transparent about this. >> There's a little delay here. I apologize. >> That's okay. >> Yeah. So this when everybody looks at that, >> if I may explain. Yeah. It looks like, oh great, we're bringing the mural over. It's not going to be the mural. It's going to be a picture of the mural. And we talked about in the steering committee a couple of days ago that maybe there's a a way to bring some elements of this and it was a cost thing or or feeling that they can't really bring the the way that the tiles are adhered to the wall in the current. um they you know they don't think

069they can bring them over. Um and so I know there was a parent there who spoke about maybe we could do something creative and have some of the kids make new tiles, you know, bring maybe we could bring some of these tiles over, maybe they wouldn't all break or whatever. It's just I just wanted people to understand because I looked at that and and when I looked at the the document, I was like, "Oh, that's great. We're going to be able to bring over the mural and it's not going to be the mural." So, I just, you know, that's it's not you, you there's nothing you can do about it. I think you guys did your due diligence. I just want to make sure that we know that that was a missed expectation for me.

070Um, and it's a, you know, it's a cool mural. I hope we can save some pieces of it and and maybe bring the new kids in. Um, in terms of the actual bid documents, so, you know, we don't have them tonight, nor should we, and that and I know you guys are still working on them. Um and in our you know discussions that we were able to have about really good um understanding what's the way for us to have the get the so this is what's important to me as we take this vote. Let me just say this. What's important to me is that at the end of the day when the bid process is done and we're sitting here in February, making what what for me will be the most consequential vote, financially consequential

071uh vote that I think I will make in my entire time on this board. I want to feel like I get the best value for the project and feel good about the the the general contractor we're going to work with and feel good about the you know the the the the you know the prime contractors and and feel like we get the best value for our money. And so some of the things that matter to me about that are things we've talked about. You know, we want responsible contractors. We want good people. What matters to me also though are things like not having a lot of change orders. We had a lot of change orders on the high school project. That was a tough project. We know that. I know you guys have shared over

072the last few years that with new construction, you know, we're hoping to have a lot of bid interest and that's a great thing for us. A new construction project is different than the the high school had its unique challenges both in terms of the site because it was a retrofit renovation and then it had site constraints and then site surprises. So, we call them site surprises. Dr. Bachelor, that'd be a good term for that. um you know so I hope a lot of that goes away but you know just making sure that our language gives us this our bid language gives us the most flexibility to have the best contractors the best people and I I did my homework this week I spoke to um the board of commissioners a couple of people who have

073done work with responsible contracting language I spoke to a county councel uh county commissioner um who lives here in Radbury Lane Schaefer who has experience with responsible contracting language because I wanted to understand how is that worked. We we didn't go with a responsible contracting policy here a few years ago. Um that kind of would have been the time to do that if we were going to do that. And I'm not necessarily even saying that would have been the best choice for our our board. What I hope still comes from all this language though is the opportunity to have the best value, the best workers. But one of the things, you know, Elaine talked to me about this and I I agree with her is a local regional workforce. I consistently have said this in

074finance meetings. I like that we use our local pizza place. I like that we use our local yogurt place. I like that we use local companies for um for vendors when we can. I Mr. Pauling will remember I was not a fan when we started moving over to Amazon for some of our contracting. I have been on the record for a long time about liking when we can use local people. So for me, that's one of the things I'll be hoping. And when I say local, I don't necessarily mean RNER, but you know, the Delaware County, Delaware Valley region, you know, here where um there's a lot of evidence that when you spend your dollars locally, the benefit comes back to you locally. It's just a value I hold. Um and I hope that that

075our bid language can have that those elements in them as well. So, those are my comments and thoughts about it. I don't want to ask a lot of questions because I appreciate that you all are giving thoughtful consideration to the language and it's to our advantage to for you to be able to discuss that fully and vet that fully and then presented in the bid packages. But it would be um incomplete for me to not share those my thoughts about that. I I do want everyone to know that we've kind of Steve and Julian and I have been listening to comments and taking notes and I'm I'm literally texting Walt Tac and we have a meeting set up tomorrow to go over some of the additional things that I heard tonight whether it's a little

076bit of focus on how a contractor adheres to prevailing wage etc. And I want to say a couple of things about the important comments you just made. one, we're looking whether you're talking about change orders or we're talking about prevailing wage or whatever, we're looking for honest contractors. The best way for us to get honest contractors is to give them a form, tell them to fill it out, and if we find out they're lying, they have a problem because we can potentially disqualify them. So those questions and there there are standard questions and there are questions that we are supplementing which are the things that I've been hearing discussions about. Those are going to be what we're really pointed at to make sure that people understand and it will send a message and I think

077we'll probably say it out loud at the pre-bid meeting. The district is looking for honest contractors. It sends a strong message. I don't think I've ever heard that said at a pre-bid if have you? I haven't. Um I've heard we want good contractors and blah blah blah, but not honest contractors. So that's one. Two, because this is public bid, there is an advantage for folks to have their workforce close by. By and large, we see regional workers when we have these projects. Sometimes, if the superintendent of a prime contractor is very, very good and that guy has to come from the Lehigh Valley, we want that guy coming down here every day because that guy that they have to offer us is exceptional. And I'm okay with that. Sometimes there is a fantastic subcontractor that

078isn't right in the region that we need to come in. I'm okay with that, too. But for the vast majority of of workers, it's going to be cheaper for the contractors bidding the job, therefore better chance for them to get the job if those folks are close by. But to your point, you understand that there's a limit to what we can do. We're hopeful that we see that type of activity the way we normally do. >> Yeah. my my votes in February. And by the way, I did if I didn't start off by thank you because I think it was a year ago, we had a big decision to make and I said, "Guys, you know, we we won't really know what this project costs until we go to bid." And so, I fully support

079we need to go to bid. Like, this is the we are here. This is the this is the moment to go to bid. My votes in February will reflect those values and the things that I'm stating really clearly tonight. >> I think they should. Thanks. >> I will tell you also, while it would be you would all look at me as though I was silly if I sat up stood here next to him and he'd run, if I promised you a good bid day, what I can tell you is this, and we talked about this at the facilities committee meeting. When we estimate a job, we want to make sure that we've seen everything. If we've seen everything, then we've quantified it. And we had extra time to do that. And we had lots of

080people looking at it to do it. See everything. We know it's there. If we apply the right pricing to it, the right unit prices, the way we know the market right now, we get an estimate. That's part of the work. The other part of the work is what's the market on bid day. I can tell you that right now the evidence that I have is for this job because unlike the high school job, this is a very desirable job. And because I see the bid market being pretty robust right now with folks in it, folks wanting good jobs, folks wanting jobs that last a while, I think that we're going to have a good bid turnout. Good bid turnout means good competition. Good competition means better pricing. So we are lucky and I am a

081year late because I stood in front of many of you and said, "Boy, I'd want to go out to bid about right now, but it was a year ago." Here we are a year later and I'm happy to be in this part of the year to do this. I think it gives us our best shot. >> Thank you, Mr. Miss Solomon. >> Yeah. >> Thank you. >> So, I first want to say to the architect, I can't see him. I I do think that your work is beautiful. I mean, it is really a stunning um creation. So, I want to say that first because I think I always sound so negative and I I want you to know that I really do appreciate and and also you gentlemen all the work that's gone into this.

082Um, so I posed a question. I want to bring this back up to 30,000 ft. That's where I'm going to be. I don't really want to get in the weeds about Terzo and you know um so I asked a question and I'm a little bit disappointed that it wasn't touched on and this was from the um facilities meeting. This is page 10. Um so when I made the vote we were presented with options. Do we renovate? What do we need to do? And in my mind when we said let's build new and this was years ago and even page 10 doesn't reflect what I remember. I remember it being $50,000 to build a new building and it was roughly >> it was roughly 30 sorry million50 million for a new building. and it was like

08336 million to renovate. And so the differential was um not that great and that was a lot of money to me for an elementary school. But we went through the reasons why we're doing that. And so I wanted you to review how we got from where we decided to build a new building at 50 million to where I think we're currently sitting at 77 million. And I was hoping that you would help me out feeling a little bit better like my colleague. >> Do you think we'd let you down? We just saved it for >> Oh, you were waiting for me to see if I was going to bring it. >> No, we knew you were going to ask it. It wasn't a question. And it was just a matter of >> they wanted to

084give you something to ask about. Would you? >> Oh, I feel so special. >> We we wanted to go through the project and explain the project as is. >> To be able to go through and dig into this particular part of it, we thought should stand alone. >> Thank you. >> In December, and I I I don't want you to ever think that your words are falling on deaf ears because they're not. >> In December of 2021, the study was 57 a.5 million. I think that's what you've been referencing. We actually went out and looked at the inflation that was calculated within that particular estimate and the added square footage, which is a little bit under 2,000. That's rounded. And we made the adjustment for inflation because that was a period of hyperinflation. And it

085was a period of inflation that was way past what was in the concept plan. and we're not building when the concept plan said we were going to build. That raised the project up by about $10 million. That that alone in addition and we've talked about this many many times from the concept when there was site work estimated at $6 million and there were a couple other buckets for site work related things. The difference between that concept and I made this joke to the architects. I said, "We talk about things written on the back of napkins." We didn't even have a napkin back then. So, there was literally a number of $6 million written in there. And um that differential is about $9.5 million. We've talked about that a lot, but that's where the bulk of

086this is. There were a couple of things, design decisions. We hit on one of them tonight. There's security glass that is not is atypical. There's a difference in how we're building the toilet rooms, which is atypical for schools. We talked about um certain um putting certain storm water um underground instead of above ground, which is not the way we usually look at things unless we're under a parking lot, for example. Those design decisions and and again, this is rounded are over half a million dollars. Now that's really not bad when you look at you guys made some design decisions and you said I want to do some things that are very important. The security probably the most important thing. How we handle toilet rooms and how we handle you know really all of that process

087of of how we treat each other hugely important. And then what we're doing with the environment and making place play place extraordinarily important. And I'm not talking about the things that were already important that should have been in there that were in there like we want to be geo we want to use geothermal. We want to do the things that Rner normally does. So nobody should feel like they've done a little too much with those little bit of a design decisions. When you start to do all that and you realize the vast majority is what happened with inflation, building size, and that site work that was not properly understood at the time of concept. That's what's making up this difference. And boy, you know, it'll be great if we get to stand in here and

088I get to go, boy, don't I look stupid because our estimate was a little high. I'll point to Walt, but don't we? That'll be great. But this is where we sit now. And I've I've told everyone before, we try to estimate to where we think the second low bidder is so that the estimates come in underneath. So this is not something that we put together in 10 minutes. This is something that we took days to research, discuss, and make sure that we had the right parameters for because it was important to us that we did answer your question. It's been a very important question the whole time. >> Well, thank you. I really appreciate that. So now I'm going to I want to dig into this a little bit though. So saying that the prices

089raised because of inflation, we know that inflation was higher a couple years ago. It's come down and it's going to come down some more. So won't those shouldn't that be reflected now? Shouldn't our adjusted total reflect um >> so >> inflation coming down from that point in >> from the time of concept inflation was expected to go up like this. It went up much steeper. >> The the difference in that climb is part of what's represented here. The difference in how much time from here all the way out to here is additional inflation. they were not represented back in the $57 million project. So there was a lot of inflation. Now it is true that we have seen inflation doing nice things like coming down or plateauing. It's it doesn't matter what inflation is after

090say January because when bids come in doesn't matter what happens after that. So even if it's trending down, we're only going to we're not going to get a rosy outlook from our contractors going, I'm going to cut some money out of this because I might get a break later. They're going to price it on what they have at that moment, which is going to be in January. I I still continue to believe, and this could change tomorrow on some political issue, but I still believe continue to believe that we're in that nice space. Fortunately, we're past hurricane season because I've been doing this where there was a hurricane and all sorts of markets skyrocketed and it affected projects that were out to bid and we're bidding in a couple of weeks or a couple of

091months. So, we're past that and I think we're in an okay spot, but we're not going to we can't take advantage of a rosy future because our future for bidding ends in January. >> No. True. But inflation right now is less than that adjusted number. you put 10 million in for inflation that we're back down again. Shouldn't that be reflected right now? >> Because it's inflated from where it was to here. If it's gone down a little bit, we've taken that in that aggregate. >> It's not below what it was in December of 2020. >> 2021. >> It's not below that >> 5%. It's down at >> socially, month by month by month or year by year, it may be below, but it has built on itself. That's the problem. >> Any savings will be

092reflected in this Well, >> and there so and then at one point a couple years ago we did this is globally we diminished the size of the project to reflect some savings and that's is that just baked in here? How much >> did million dollars that >> millions of dollars were in the project at one time with more extensive designs, more glass, >> right? >> More of a whole lot of things and that that was taken out. So the the number went higher than 77. Okay. And came back down. >> Okay. So we were even higher than this. I forgot that piece. >> I I I promised people I would stop. But I you know we're we're you can see that the building is a beautiful building. We're we're building >> we're not building something

093that's monumental and is out of scale, but we're building a great building for the community. >> Okay. All right. Thank you. that helps me. Um, my next thing is just this is what I care about. Um, so bear with me. When I looked at the video of the grounds, it does look like there's a lot of grass space, open space. Is there any way to save some of the beautiful trees there and not, you know, we're doing what was it? 500 trees are coming down and do we have to take out all those trees to have this grass area? Like we have playing fields, we have playgrounds. Could we try to keep more trees? >> So yes, thank you for for asking about the trees. So there there was a tremendous amount of thought put

094into that. Um the project includes a sophisticated urban reforestation program. I forget the exact numbers, but a large percentage of the trees on the property are deceased. Um, I I'm I'm going to say at risk of being wrong, something like 40% of the trees that were identified. And then and and then beyond that, another percentage that's actively dying. And um so to answer the question directly, no, no tree is being removed that is not affected by either the footprint of the building or the grading associated with the site, but the district and the district every day is removing trees on the site for safety reasons and so forth. what's going to be done as part of the project is and and the the animation does not it the goal of the animation was not to

095reflect exactly the trees on the site necessarily. So it's it's a it's a rendering. Okay. But what I can say is that there's going to be hundreds of trees reestablished and that it is a it is a process that has been developed in concert with an arborist, reviewed by the township, approved by the township, um I'll even say enthusiastically embraced by the township for what is an innovative urban reforestation program. So that in the next generation of trees and in the next couple generations of people, we get to enjoy a better site than what exists now. >> Is the budget for the reforestation in this 77 million? >> Yes, that's another reason for the cost of the site work. >> Oh, >> it's in the site work. in that 9 million 500 has >> the

096removal and then also the replanting. Okay. >> Well, thank you. >> That that's part of the approval of the project that was that was looked at very very carefully. >> Okay. I appreciate your answers. >> Does anybody else have questions before I launch into mine? Miss Girtton, >> just one quick one on the trees. Is there a rendering of the plan for the trees? Does the township >> There's a drawing, but no, not we didn't develop a rendering specifically of the trees. >> Yeah. >> The No, it it's in the construction documents. It's been designed and approved. I we just we don't have a we don't have a rendering of it, if that's what you mean. >> Or even just a >> There's a drawing of it. Yeah, there's a site plan. Yep. >> Is

097there a way to access that? I'm just curious. Um, yes, we could we could provide that to you. Yeah, >> thanks. >> Yep, absolutely. >> Great. Thank you so much, everyone. Oh, sorry. Go ahead, Miss Lao. >> I don't have my own question per se, but I just wanted to acknowledge and kind of share, you know, um, in Mrs. Stern's concerns relating to the responsibleness of prospective biders and the ultimate bidder. Um, you know, I appreciate everything that we're going to try to do with respect to the language that we're going to, you know, incorporate into the bid documents. I think recognizing the limitations of any language, right, to anticipate, you know, all, you know, contingencies and kind of, you know, choices of behavior by participants. Um, I think we all recognize that we don't

098have any silver bullets here. Um, and you know, and I also appreciate the time to pass a responsible contracting policy has probably passed um, in order for it to be effective for this particular bid. Um but I too am kind of optimistic that you know in February when we're confronted with the ultimate decision that um you know the the current law does state that you know we should accept the lowest responsible bid right and there is you know from my understanding based on council's um advice that there is pretty robust case law that defines exactly what responsible means Right. And I'm hoping that as a board that we will feel comfortable that we will be afforded um you know the necessary flexibility and range of judgment right that the taxpaying public would expect um from

099us as board members, right? So that even if we don't anticipate every possible contingency in whatever language we get into our bidding documents that the case law right will allow us to you know >> choices >> exactly all of the things that Mrs. Stern kind of articulated, you know, hopefully we will be given that opportunity then um to protect ourselves and to do what's best in the long run financially and kind of holistically for our school district. >> Thank you, Miss Lao. Okay. Um I I do have a couple questions and they range from really really fine details to kind of broad swooping stuff as you would expect. Um and I I you know used to sit on the facilities committee and was in some of the early meetings about this. So there's a lot

100of stuff that I remember from early on in the project that may not be around anymore. And I just I want to close those loops for myself. So, um, one of them was at one point, you know, we had grand visions or some of us did of having solar panels above the parking lot and we knew there wasn't money in the budget for that based on Act 34. Thank you very much. Um, but there was talk of perhaps having conduits in there. Did that come to fruition? I'm not mad at anybody. I just want to know like down the road if I get myself back on the facilities committee, um, if that's something we can push for in a later project. Jo >> come on up. >> That's uh sorry. Uh so that is part

101of the electrical site plan to have the the infrastructure in place in case that is a decision that is made down the road. >> Excellent. So if the board were to find a grant somewhere or the district, sorry, the board doesn't do all that work that the administration does. If the administration were to find some kind of grant for us in the next few years, I as I recall, it can't be done as part of this project because it could potentially tip the Act 34, but it could be done as its own separate project. >> Excellent. Oh, I'm very excited about that. I was really expecting you to say no. It had fallen by the wayside. >> And the new budget has a lot of money for solar, the new state budget. >> That would

102Yes. So, that would be great >> for schools. >> Perfect. Um, then I was looking at the mosaic. We I heard I I'm happy I I'm sorry to hear that it can't be moved. Um but I'm happy to hear that you heard people's intent that that the spirit of that whatever you could do to bring it over would be great. And and if it's a very detailed rendering that would be nice. The I was looking at the um playgrounds outside and can you pull up the picture and I didn't see it in my paper presentation and that's fine. And I never mind when you add stuff that's more information, but the playground for the kindergarten. >> Oh, no. I think it was right back there. It just went by. >> Yeah. So, that's fine. This

103is So, this is this and I just didn't remember there being a fence here. And I'm fine. I I think there was another playground picture. Maybe it was the end of the um rendering, end of the video that showed the whole playground. And I assume that's what this fence is about. It's about protecting kids during the school day. They don't run out into traffic. >> Where is the is the entrance to the kid kindergarten playground just from that >> spot here or is >> Okay. >> Yes. >> I couldn't tell. So they can't Can they leave it to go out the back to the other playgrounds or is it always you have to go back up the hill? >> No. Yeah. So the Yes. What the playground itself is just off the view to the

104left. Um but yes, what you're seeing here is the exit door from the building right where where you see out up there under the canopy. And this is the walkway that provides an accessible pathway down to the kindergarten play area which yes is inside a fence. Okay. >> For so to protect from traffic >> and but no, the grading there does not allow direct access um from that playground to the other playground. >> So they can't come out the bottom of the playground to join some other event. >> Correct. Yeah. Yeah. It's the it it think of it it's at the level nominally at the level of the tennis courts. So you know how that slopes down from there. >> Okay. Got it. Um I got those questions. There's um a large red top like

105a red and I my question was is it pavement or is it the nice spongy material they had at Rner for a while? >> Yeah, it's a synthetic surface. So the the large playground is a combination of synthetic surface and asphalt black top. >> Okay. So the synthetic surface meaning it's a little bit spongier. It's kind of I mean it's not bouncy. You're you're right in that it's similar to it's a next generation better, but it is the it's similar to the Radner Elementary material. >> Okay. Um the Okay, moving on to my other list. The um the retention basin. I also had questions about the retention basin up near the um up near the bus loop. In the time since I also complained loudly like Mrs. concern about this. I have since come to

106see some very pretty uh passable uh retention basins. There's between the um next to the Pen Medicine building uh and the Arkma building, they've put in some retention basins. And one of the things that really struck me about them was when I walk out of that parking garage, there are red-winged black birds and all kinds of song birds in that retention basin in the trees that surround the retention basin. And so my question for you is there in this budget funding for landscaping around that retention basin or is it going to be just an ugly ditch like we have along Lancaster Avenue and our bike trail that the township put in? >> That sounds loaded. >> It is loaded. I I offered you the right answer. >> So the design I I think I know

107the one you're talking about. So there's there's actually it is of a different design. That's that's that's a like a rain garden type design. >> There's no garden to it, but yes, >> it it is it's what it's called. Yeah. And so it it has specific plantings that are designed for that for that. >> They're all gone. >> It's grass and some like PVC piping. >> Yeah. No, I'm I'm talking about the pen medicine one. Okay. Yes. Yeah. The pen medicine one is actually >> So that that that's a different design. >> Kind of ninetails and >> Yes. And all of those plantings are dependent on very specific conditions that are part of the design of that. That's not necessarily a a detention basin that that generates that opportunity. Okay. >> So, and that would

108that takes a much larger footprint of area and is much more expensive. So this is more of a traditional again to try to minimize its size, okay, >> to allow for the, you know, more of the site to be used for other things. We have an economical one. Now, does it have to be an ugly ditch? I would submit no. Um, >> have we budgeted for an ugly ditch or for something in between? >> There's Yeah, exactly. Something in between the ugly ditch and pen. So, yeah, that depends on the maintenance of it. Um, you know, the and so forth. So it's um but but it's this one was designed for you know efficiency and compactness so that we could have more of the site to do other things with and um and those rain

109gardens are very expensive to maintain because otherwise you don't see the song birds and the cattails you see weeds. >> Yeah I know they are managing the weeds. >> Um go ahead. Did you have something? >> I was just saying when we did have this discussion Mr. Morris, I remember you talking about working at a an elementary school or a school in which she put one in and they ended up with birdhouses around the fence and Right. Correct. >> Exactly. So, I was going to I was going to chime in, but I didn't. >> Okay. >> So, we we did go over to um the the building and I for I'm I'm sorry. I forget the name of it. It's across the street from the high school. The >> Yeah, it's Arkham. It's next to

110Pen Medicine. Yeah. Yeah. >> Yeah. So, we did go over there. We met with the the facilities person over there. We toured the the rain garden, talked to them, and actually uh Bill Dolan, director of facilities, and Neil Stitzman, who's our ground lead, um did that meeting, spent some time over there, talked to them. Neil's really, uh excited about this project, our our grounds lead, uh for the green and clean team. That was a plug. Um but so, um we we are looking at at at some of those things and and what we can do after the project is over. Um it would be nice that we take the lead on some of those things. Um that way we can customize it, make it our own. Um and yes, the birdhouses was a great project.

111So we did have a retention base and um we worked with the the kids in the school. They built little birdhouse kits. So we um we looked at several different factors. um you know, were they south facing, northwest facing um because different birds like different um and then how far off the ground were they and and what would complement the um native species in there. So um we decided on uh I believe it was bluebirds um but uh we built birdhouses and then on every every other post in the right direction we mounted those to attract um um the birds there. So that was a really neat project. So, um, you know, we could look at continuing something like that here. >> Okay. So, it sounds like I'm not getting a beautiful rain garden, but

112I we have a commitment from Mr. Morris that there will be at a minimum student artwork and hopefully also some nice plantings that attract the wildlife. >> Yes. >> Safe wildlife. Okay. >> Um, that was that. I really appreciate the urban reforestation project. I don't think I had heard that piece. So, I I really appreciate that you're working on that. Um, I liked the term honest contractors. I'm totally switching gears. Um, I thought that was a really good one and I and it actually triggered a thought for me about my other life where I write contracts and one of the things we do is we say we won't pay you or like certain portions of your payment when I hire contractors for work uh will be contingent upon you proving you have paid your subs.

113Now, I'm not looking to add a mountain of of workload to our contractors. I I don't want people to shy away because we're going to be difficult to work with. But I want to know that Radner's name is not sullied by a contractor who doesn't pay their subs. And I want to know that if they're billing us for a certain level of employee, they're paying the employee what they said they're paying them, not a lower wage. And I'm not talking about prevailing wage. I'm talking about how you classify your employees. And I want to know what I'm paying for is what I'm getting. So it goes to the honesty. But I guess my question for you, and I'm not asking you to commit to it now, but would you consider putting something in the bid

114that makes them certify and show a letter from their subs that they're getting whatever partial payments or, you know, periodic payments they're supposed to be getting before we pay our cont the general contractor for the next payment. >> So, I'm going to start with honest contractors. I I literally was texting a message that we want to that we want to say that at our pre-bid in relation to the contract qualification statement. That's part one. Part two is that we get the prevailing wage certif certificates for each contractor because the contractors will be on an occupied school site. Everyone will have a badge. We will know who every person is that comes and goes and we will know what labor classification they are supposed to be. So when when the applications for payment come in those

115certificate the certificates for um prevailing wage should be follow should follow very closely behind by a week or so. By the time the application for payment is actually paid those those searchs will be in. We take we look at the people that are there and see what they're doing. Clearly, if somebody's not doing the right labor classification, we start asking questions. We might throw them off the job. We might all sort there's all sorts of different steps that we can take. When when it comes to getting knowledge that subcontractors are being paid, we do that in a couple of different ways. The primary way is we talk to the subcontractors. You would be surprised how much prime contractors and subcontractors like to talk about each other on job sites. You would think that you're at

116a grade school, but they do. And so you'll hear very quickly, well, we haven't been paid. And we'll hear that, our superintendent, Bill Minan, will hear that before anybody else will, even if it's a little bit late. So you have that. Typically, we do not have waiverss of leans that that require all that because we are a public entity and nobody's going to lean you as a public entity. I do believe though if we're looking at reduced retainage, we start to do that and consent with bond company as well. So, I will look into seeing if we can make that more robust than it is. But you know in private business often we would require >> I didn't think we had the waiver of leans but I knew the concept that we still we have

117to get a document that they've >> well sometimes we we can require that somebody certifies that they're paying their subcontractors. >> We will have that conversation with the special counsel for construction and see if we want to add that in. We certainly have time to do that and you'll see me texting my team about that when I sit down. >> Thank you very much. Um, I I I I think it's been said and I I know we've said it privately, but um, it is a beautiful building, Julian. You should be very proud of what you've drawn. If it if it comes out like this, we will all be just terribly, terribly happy. And even if none of us is on the board, when it's finally built, uh, we will all happily come visit it. So,

118thank you very much for all your efforts. I hope that, uh, the bidding goes well. If there are no other questions, I'm ready. I'm sorry. Go ahead, Mrs. >> I'm sorry. I'm You made me think of something because I'm currently working at a school that is under a construction project. Um, I want to know who is actually on site. Like you talked about, oh, there's, you know, these different classifications of workers that are there. Who's actually there daytoday? You're not You're the >> Damian, I think this question is for you. Yeah, >> I think he's he was talking about his superintendent. >> I was Julian's going to be there. >> You're not talking about Dr. Bachelor. >> Wrong is actually there. >> Superintendent with a small ass. Um the person that's actually going to be

119there is Bill Minahan. >> I believe maybe Miss Duffy, Miss Dunn met Bill at our interview. I think you were both in our our interview. There's a gentleman there that's was he's a fire chief out in Lionville um that has been working with Ken for many years now, but that's we call that an on-site we call it an on-site construction manager, but sometimes a superintendent. So that >> so he's there full-time. >> He's there full-time. >> So he is the one actually checking that these people have clearances. >> Him and the project manager, Mike Crane. And Mike Crane was the project manager on the middle school years ago. Those those are the two individuals. And we also have um get some help from a project coordinator. But yes, it's individuals that are in our employee

120that see who these folks are and see if there's anything that doesn't look right and collects all that paperwork for the district. >> Cuz I got to tell you that I see daily infractions of what I know they're not supposed to be doing during certain times that it goes daily. I see stuff going on. So you you have somebody that's going to be able to control all these and I'm telling you 50 75 people are doing stuff. >> Oh yeah. On this project you're going to have days where there's going to be over a hundred folks. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Yep. >> To be clear, Mrs. Solomon does not work at a school in Rner Township. >> Um okay. So, if that's if that concludes everybody's questions and any deliberation, I'm going to ask

121for the vote. I'm going to call the vote. All in favor of going out to bid. I And I think I have 80 for the record. Okay. So, the next item on the agenda is the consent agenda. Um, and we do this every month. So, we all know what we're doing. Um, the cons the numbers are off though. Hold on. With the new agenda, the consent agenda. May I get a motion to approve items 9.01 through 13.02. >> So moved. >> Thank you, Mrs. Solomon. >> Second. >> And a second for Miss Duffy. All in favor? I have an 80 vote. Great. That brings us to item 14 on the agenda, which is the reports from board leaison and community announcements. Mrs. Solomon, do you have an update for us from the Delaware County Community

122Council? >> Community college? >> Sorry, community college. >> No report. >> Thank you. Uh Dr. Babson, do you have a report from the DCIU? >> Sure. Quick. Uh so during our board and committee meetings uh highlights included updates on the progress of the Marple uh renovation project and the decision to reopen the search for the next DCIU executive director. Um so the the DCIU has has provided a statement which is a bit lengthy but they simply say that they are committed to finding um the best person for the job and um that they are opening up the search process again. >> Could I impose on you I don't need you to read it out here. Could you send that to the board >> or do you if you would just or if it's a link

123or whatever send it to us just so we're aware. Sure. >> I'm assuming for people who want to go look at it, it's on the DCIU website. >> Sure. And you know, just um it'll take me a minute to read. I'll quick That's fine. >> The Delaware County Intermediate Unit board of directors remains dedicated to finding the best possible leader to guide the organization into the future. As part of this ongoing commitment, the board has decided to reopen the executive director application window to ensure a broad and competitive pool of candidates. This step reflects the board's deliberate, thoughtful approach to the search process, emphasizing the importance of finding the right individual who embodies DCIU's mission and values. The board looks forward to continuing this process with optimism and care as we work towards selecting an

124exceptional leader for our organization and the communities we serve. And that was provided shortly after uh the decision to do this uh earlier this month on the 5th. >> Thank you very much. any progress in Well, I guess that's that's their statement. There's not necessarily an outside search firm being engaged at this point. >> Uh I have not been privy to any further information on on steps that are ongoing. Um but uh also my last meeting for the DCIU board was uh was last Wednesday. Okay. So, um perhaps >> the this can be something that um your replacement >> continues with with um the the next person who maybe Mr. Thornton. We'll see. >> We we missed that item. That item missed the agenda this month. So, it may just appear on the next uh

125agenda. >> Sure. Just one more quick thing. Just a reminder that DCIU board and committee meetings take place in the first and second Wednesdays of the month. >> So, looking forward. Thank you very much. >> Uh I do not have a report from the Delaware County School Boards Legislative Council. Uh Pennsylvania School Boards Association, Mr. Thornton? >> I do not have an update this time. >> Okay. Uh the next item on the agenda is board announcements. Uh the next board agenda, next board meeting is actually a special meeting. It's the board reorganization meeting at which we will um the four new board one new board member and three incumbent board members will be uh sworn in and then we will have a short special board meeting after that. Um it's also where we do reorganization

126of leadership of the board for people who are interested. That will be Tuesday, December 2nd uh at 5:00 pm which is a special time. So if you're watching and thinking you really want to be there, be there at 5. Um, and then we have two uh committee meetings scheduled next month. We often don't meet in December, but this month we've got enough going on that we've decided both curriculum and facilities need to meet. That'll be on December 9th. Uh, and then we will be back here uh on December 16th in the township building um for a regular business meeting and then a charter school hearing um on a application for a charter school at Valley Forge. The last item on the agenda is public comment. Do we have any live public comment at this time?

127Okay. Seeing none, uh I think the last item on the agenda is to adjourn. May I have a motion to adjurnn? >> So moved. >> Second. >> Dr. Fabson and Miss Solomon. And may we have a vote? All in favor?