[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6605059,"mediaKeyId","2987399-3331f1153e66b24d89ff921c2929a506","parentId",2987399,"title","Octorara board reviews major facilities work including water tank replacement and HVAC options","audioSeconds",366,"startMs",2423000,"endMs",2789000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2987399-3331f1153e66b24d89ff921c2929a506&start=2423&end=2789","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2987399-3331f1153e66b24d89ff921c2929a506/thumbnail_2423000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6605059/Pennsylvania/Octorara-board-reviews-major-facilities-work-including-water-tank-replacement-and-HVAC-options","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6605059-0bd31256e01622d818e453c92da79c87/orig.mp4?Expires=1770449767&Signature=Hgd3xp8VvwIprtsBpFbgfEBZC9iEY3lezoQe2JSw0K5hd3Fw3nJXhZZaROC2SfknFPsCd4GXMty3ngS4VtOXQ2fMZ3jhIF7Y5dnzmBP8wXJD9vf-LrhnDsqNQUCl6cEA~GqgPvQiF3Rdld4zuwGdpol0EskSjcOlHNDlZ8xWB1QEzK45jiuioom7l3v6vh-sWWOd9d-ph82p-xZPiaHBr6cgELtLtUIl8EfAG2YIvB9uL-N8SioTQoWW3DQbUOPIldKUq4zdqZ9Y83-3Fm6L561UrI48UKLrYSx0X~3rXn0b-6BQHEkF1-cSHimmMYr3DOforJXeCoO8JpDJ~69dGQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Octorara Area School District","date","2025-04-15T00:17:14.393Z","article","The Octorara Area School District facilities committee reported to the school board on a slate of capital projects and maintenance needs, highlighting a proposed $971,000 scope to replace a cracked, leaking water tank and options for a middle-school HVAC upgrade that include traditional, hybrid (partial geothermal) and full geothermal systems.

Committee members said the HVAC work will require updated electrical infrastructure and reviewed life-cycle cost comparisons and potential well locations for geothermal systems. The committee also discussed a number of other projects planned for the coming year, including asbestos abatement in five middle-school rooms, reconversion of nine rooms, track resurfacing work, and targeted roof and RTU repairs.

The committee overview underscored why the work is being considered: the current water tank has cracks and leaks, the middle-school HVAC and several rooftop units are aged or failing, and classroom and auditorium repairs are part of maintaining building safety and operations. Committee speakers said the water-tank proposal contemplates moving the tank underground and gave a total scope figure of $971,000 for that replacement.

Committee discussion and vendor updates
Committee members said vendors have visited the track for resurfacing bids and that the recommended approach for the track is a nonpermeable coating with minimal repairs intended to extend the surface life by about 10 years. For the softball field along Route 41 the committee said a screening project to prevent foul balls from reaching the highway will go out to bid; options discussed included a combined chain-link fence with netting or extending the backstop.

On building mechanicals, the committee reported an immediate need at the Primary Learning Center (PLC) for a chiller that is failing; the committee gave a replacement-cost figure of $456,000 for the PLC chiller. The committee also discussed replacing unit ventilators at the middle school with rooftop units (RTUs); one bid cited by the committee was from Freight Lutz at $87,468. The committee noted some RTU work is needed for the cafeteria, art room and special-needs spaces but did not provide a full dollar total for that package during the report.

Furniture, moving schedule and other contracts
The committee reviewed a middle-school classroom furniture proposal from Corbett for 14 classrooms that the committee recited as approximately $169,196.50 (presented as a worst-case figure the committee said could be lower). The committee said moving day for the realignment will start July 1 and that classrooms should be ready for teachers the first week of July.

On service contracts, the committee reported a new custodial contract with Campus Service Group will reduce costs by about $44,000 because the primary learning center will no longer require nightly cleaning. The district will also renew its contract with BSGI for fire-equipment inspections.

Site compliance and fuel depot relocation
The committee reported the district’s diesel fuel depot must be relocated because it is out of compliance with Department of Environmental Protection requirements and sits within 25 feet of a cell tower. The committee said the bid to move the diesel fuel depot from Ferguson to McCann was $69,356.

Process and next steps
Committee members said the board will see specific bids and contract language as items move onto a future board agenda; at the meeting the committee presented updates and recommended proceeding to bid where applicable. No final board votes on the projects were recorded in the transcript of this meeting.

Why it matters
Taken together, the projects the facilities committee previewed would affect day-to-day operations (cooling and heating), student and staff safety (asbestos abatement, water-tank integrity), and longer-term operating costs (HVAC lifecycle choices). The committee framed many items as either bid-ready or in vendor-evaluation stages and indicated the board will consider contract awards and budget approvals on future agendas.

What remains unresolved
The committee provided estimated or bid figures for several items but left some totals and final vendor selections to later agenda items. Committee members also flagged potential alternatives for certain projects (for example, the Route 41 ball-screening options) and noted some figures presented were worst-case or subject to further pricing.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Octorara Area School Board Work Session 4-14-2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Octorara Area School District facilities committee reported to the school board on a slate of capital projects and maintenance needs, highlighting a proposed $971,000 scope to replace a cracked, leaking water tank and options for a middle-school HVAC upgrade that include traditional, hybrid (partial geothermal) and full geothermal systems.","taxTitle","Octorara Area SD, School Districts, Pennsylvania","taxId",46551,"location","Pennsylvania","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6605049,"Octorara physics team previews international competition, students seek national-team selection",1007,839000,1846000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2987399-3331f1153e66b24d89ff921c2929a506&start=839&end=1846","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2987399-3331f1153e66b24d89ff921c2929a506/thumbnail_839000.jpg","/articles/6605049/Pennsylvania/Octorara-physics-team-previews-international-competition-students-seek-national-team-selection","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6605049-1eadd4844e36f079cc3d2b491d56b8cb/orig.mp4?Expires=1770449767&Signature=ZDjbcJpDiQweYAcf5crMQHR431Bpeb3zW4zaA5X8vh~~mCvvPR4pZsMG9arsfMyeRt0BP8F999kWI0F8ooclvDEeGJd2HQBO~Nx002NpXaBA~a7W4gd9sFIAp~Jco8MoYWEP0qAMLIvIZyDBShEHcx7FBQeDporcJWHPgNiPPAam429BObjc4n8YmDfqu2W6IExUSfZLQm4LAr9bcf6qr20WSq-X7RKFVLebr9qR9kRTR1NxCW~tqY4X~Ehvs8Xqgh~MRIWXVUJzrRSy6dO82VPMzzNSjD0mzBXn9dSKbaNLUmfrA03GzxQdhx1AKRyHqKn5JueiAbdxTBWxBvkPjw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Students from the Octorara physics team presented to the board about their projects and a possible trip to the International Physics competition in Lund, Sweden. A teacher introduced four students and said the national selection committee would decide that evening who will be invited to travel; students expected to learn the result the following day.

The students explained their projects and demonstrated experiments for the board. One student team analyzed the circular motion of weighted balls on strings, citing factors they examined: simple harmonic motion, air drag, energy lost in collisions, and energy input frequency relative to string length. Another student tested how ruler material and friction affect the velocity of a launched ping-pong ball and said flexibility and friction were the largest factors. A third project examined how inflating a netting around a balloon changes the contraction distance and measured pressure and surface-tension relationships.

Board members and administrators praised the students’ curiosity, noted the program’s long-term alumni success — including students who went on to Bucknell and Princeton as physics majors — and suggested the district consider additional ways to document and showcase alumni outcomes after competitions. A board member suggested the district track return-on-investment for students’ competitive experiences and consider alumni highlights.

Why it matters
Students said they have worked on projects since fall and that the selection committee is finalizing national-team membership; if chosen, students would travel June 29–July 7 for the international competition. The presentation illustrated district extracurricular STEM opportunities and prompted board discussion about documenting competition outcomes and alumni trajectories.

","Students from Octorara showcased experiments and explained projects to the board, saying they submitted work for national-team selection and may travel to Lund, Sweden for the competition pending tomorrow’s national committee decision.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6605054,"Board debates commissioning a 'state of the district' report and whether to reallocate an existing contract",346,2858000,3204000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2987399-3331f1153e66b24d89ff921c2929a506&start=2858&end=3204","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2987399-3331f1153e66b24d89ff921c2929a506/thumbnail_2858000.jpg","/articles/6605054/Pennsylvania/Board-debates-commissioning-a-state-of-the-district-report-and-whether-to-reallocate-an-existing-contract","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6605054-28eb9ddd27d1937258a860dac93ab1aa/orig.mp4?Expires=1770449767&Signature=c6AT8zzidUTihBo51SBqgUMyiLhOWdb7KTMrP6RY-0p2DO19UXaHz4HbduMQhpmA9iaYSrzZ05erqpNJuQpoT~CEtl3V~tbT69z6IOwUhpDwdWkYO5pxKX~n2X3zTPpCiKkaZJ~GQWNjImGbXa6641rRJTCtXQS1FyTUdWPJ0eh7MbDrrA7zU5-zAna2CZESrsJTv8wu0C7dYH719v0kdbBTknhM-zZutK5Z7Oh-z0j7qfUEgVe02s7q6H28O~FDyOMzEo9TXml~4OXtJ~R8fT4yMgAT47GqwDJ~B3mRxR4gJJY6AcY50evFYbniOrQBnHWwpIhWkAUhLp281gWTgQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Board members discussed whether to contract with consultant Chris DeFazio and the Chester County Intermediate Unit to produce a multimedia “state of the district” report intended to showcase district programs, including CTE and other signature offerings, and to use brief video to promote recruitment and community understanding.

A board member who proposed the idea said the district has not produced an annual report in two years and argued a high-quality, district-wide presentation could help families evaluate local options and highlight unique programs such as Career and Technical Education and the Physics Fight Club. The proponent said the district spends substantial funds when a student leaves for a charter school and that improved communications could help retain students.

Contracting and available funds
School administrators said they have an existing contract with consultant Beth Trapani under which roughly $10,000 of paid work remains unused; the administrator said Trapani had attempted focus groups with mixed success and that Trapani and the district are discussing whether to reallocate that remaining balance toward work on CTE programming. Board members discussed whether to shift funds from the existing Trapani agreement or to proceed with a separate contract with DeFazio and the Chester County Intermediate Unit.

Next steps
Board members asked for more clarity about the current Trapani contract and whether any unused funds could be repurposed. One board member asked for a presentation from Chris DeFazio; another said a presentation was not necessary and the board ultimately directed staff to put the DeFazio/IU proposal on the agenda for a vote next week.

Why it matters
Board members framed the report as a tool to communicate the district’s strengths to current and prospective families, to raise awareness of successful programs and to provide a consolidated public-facing summary of district offerings. The board did not authorize spending during the meeting; the question of using the unused Trapani contract dollars, and any new contract value, will be decided at a future meeting.

","Board members discussed a proposal to hire Chris DeFazio and Chester County Intermediate Unit support to create a multimedia “state of the district” report and whether to reassign approximately $10,000 remaining under a contract with consultant Beth Trapani; the board agreed to place the proposal on next week’s agenda for a vote.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Octorara board reviews major facilities work including water tank replacement and HVAC options

Octorara physics team previews international competition, students seek national-team selection

Board debates commissioning a 'state of the district' report and whether to reallocate an existing contract