Board approves Warhol renovation scope, modular classrooms and multiple facility projects

The Marple Newtown School Board on April 28 approved a set of facilities and transportation items including a large renovation at Warhol Elementary and several maintenance or capital projects at other schools.

A district facilities presenter explained the Warhol package before the board: the base bid covers a full renovation of Warhol Elementary and an addition of roughly 20,000 square feet (about eight additional classrooms in the base bid). Alternate 1 would increase the addition to roughly 16 learning spaces (it includes the base eight), alternate 2 adds a dedicated bus loop, and alternate 3 adds a road between Pennview Avenue and Highland Avenue that incorporates the bus loop. With alternates combined, the motions approved would result in about a 25,000-square-foot larger addition plus the new access road and bus loop. The presenter said current modular classrooms on site number four and that the alternate scope is intended to relieve overcrowding.

The board also approved a change order for the public announcement system at Paxon Hollow/Millville, the purchase and placement of modular classrooms at Wuerl Elementary School, and a door-and-hardware replacement project at Russell Elementary. Each motion was moved, seconded and approved by voice vote during the Facilities and Transportation committee portion of the meeting. The board discussed payment timing and confirmed the projects will be paid on a draw schedule as invoices arrive; administration said it would monitor arbitrage and use capital-reserve funds to manage interest during construction.

Next steps: administration will proceed with contract awards and manage the construction draw schedule; the board will receive updates during the renovation and as bids and invoices are processed.