Edison board approves $1.39 million to renovate 23 school bathrooms amid procurement concerns

The Edison Township Board of Education voted to renovate 23 bathrooms across the district for $1,393,536, approving the package after debate about procurement and timing.

Board member Brian Schneider moved the resolution, detailing the work as four bathrooms at Ben Franklin, four at Edison High, five at Herbert Hoover Middle School, two at Lincoln Elementary, four at Woodrow Wilson Middle School and four at Martin Luther King Elementary. Schneider said the total cost is $1,393,536 and that the board would use a cooperative purchasing contract (a "co‑op") to secure contractors rather than running separate public bids. "Those bullet points would be the motion on the floor," Schneider said when placing the motion.

The motion's supporters emphasized summer scheduling and existing budget authority. The district's business administrator explained that companies listed on state co‑ops are pre‑qualified through a lead agency and that using a co‑op can speed summer work so projects finish before school reopens. "Utilizing the co‑op...was the most expedient matter to get it done," the business administrator said, noting co‑op contractors have already been competitively vetted.

Opponents and several residents raised concerns that awarding a large volume of work to a single firm—referred to repeatedly in the discussion as Academic Construction—risked creating vendor concentration and reduced competitive transparency. "My concern over here is Academic Construction should not be getting millions of dollars of work here without bidding," one board member said. Another resident said the public perceives a $4 million figure and questioned why the board was arguing over bathrooms rather than completing the work quickly.

The board weighed competing priorities: the desire to expedite work in a narrow summer window, the possibility that going back out to bid could raise costs or delay completion, and the oversight duty to the public. Board members also discussed whether architectural drawings and bidding could have been completed earlier in the year to avoid the rush.

On the roll call, the motion passed. Votes recorded in the meeting: Mr. Lugo (yes), Miss Ana Patel (yes), Mr. Vel Patel/President Patel (yes), Mr. Rivera (yes), Mr. Schneider (yes), Miss White (yes), Vice President Romano (yes). Miss Pang recorded an abstention. The meeting record shows the motion carried and the board directed administration to proceed with the work as approved.

The decision follows earlier committee discussion that framed the renovations as part of larger summer facilities work and noted the district had budgeted funds for summer projects. Board members asked administration to provide additional detail on the scope of each bathroom project and the procurement steps the administration used to select co‑op vendors. The board attorney and business administrator said the co‑op arrangement is legally compliant and commonly used to expedite time‑sensitive school construction.

Next steps listed by the board included finalizing contract paperwork and coordinating summer schedules to allow construction to occur while school is not in session. The board also signaled it will continue oversight of large contracts and vendors receiving significant district work.

The motion was introduced during an open meeting that began with awards and recognitions and drew extensive public comment on both the procurement issues and unrelated district policy concerns. The board then adjourned to a private session for personnel and professional‑services matters.