Scranton administration delivers $40M capital‑projects priority list and seeks grant support

Superintendent Dr. Keating presented a districtwide capital‑projects priority list the administration prepared with Dewey and facilities staff. The packet identified immediate safety and operational priorities—boiler and hot‑water replacements at Scranton High, fire‑alarm replacements requiring abatement at several schools, multiple roof replacements (totaling roughly $12.8 million), Memorial Stadium turf options, and other projects including PA systems, interior cameras, paving and masonry repairs—bringing the preliminary total to about $40 million.

Keating and Pat Laffey flagged grant opportunities including the Commonwealth Financing Authority's Public School Facility Improvement Grant Program (maximum district award examples discussed) and an environmental grant with large potential awards but significant local match requirements (administration cited a 25% match for one grant and 50% match for environmental funds). The district recently received a $450,000 award for exterior door replacements, and administration said it planned to apply for additional state grant cycles. Dewey offered contingency‑based grant application support (a fee proposal around 10% of any award was discussed); the board asked staff to negotiate fee terms before authorizing any amendment.

Several high‑priority operational fixes were identified for immediate attention: replacing failing boilers and hot‑water systems at Scranton High (estimated $1.6 million), addressing multiple antiquated fire alarm systems and performing necessary asbestos abatement, installing new PA systems across buildings (estimated base $1.5 million) and addressing a McNichols Plaza chiller failure (options: $1.1M replacement vs. rental at an estimated $85,100 per month and setup costs). The board heard specifics on West Intermediate modular classroom lease extension ($108,000 for six months), West Intermediate generator replacement (change‑order option estimated $283,000), and work at Memorial Stadium (scoreboard, lighting and generator needs).

Administration will prioritize the list, identify probable funding sources and return motions on a subset of projects, including the modular trailer lease extension and the West Intermediate generator change order, at upcoming meetings.