Board approves multiple facilities moves: locker replacements, borrowed auditorium seats and several design contracts

At its March 2 meeting, the Scranton School District board approved a slate of facilities investments and professional-service contracts while flagging equity concerns raised during public comment.

The board voted to purchase 1,665 replacement lockers for West Grant High School at a total cost of $979,250. Operations staff described the project as a repair and replacement effort driven by worn and inoperable lockers; board members asked for an inspection and a districtwide prioritization to ensure investments are made relative to need.

Separately, the district agreed to acquire 450 hard-plastic auditorium seats from another closing school at $5 per seat (total seats cost $2,250) and authorized related travel and transport expenses; discussion included whether to rent storage containers or stage the seats in district space to save cost.

The board approved design and engineering services for multiple projects: structural engineering for Montichello K–3 expansion (not-to-exceed $18,500 hourly cap), land survey and civil engineering for Montichello ($12,600) and Studio KP design services to prepare bid-ready documents for the West Grant High School science lab ($79,300). A change order for West Grant fire doors ($17,100) also passed.

A proposed fee schedule for the West High auditorium renovation, estimated between $800,000 and $1.25 million, was tabled for more precise pricing; administrators said site inspections and follow-up meetings would be scheduled to narrow the range.

Board members acknowledged public comments about deteriorating conditions at South Intermediate and asked operations staff to inspect and return recommended priorities for painting, repairs and safety-related work.

Next steps: administration will inspect South Intermediate, refine project priority lists across buildings, and return to the board with firm contract prices or a revised funding plan for the auditorium scope.