[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-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",[32,76,88,100],{"_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",6552202,"mediaKeyId","5127737-cf90c109be30568cbc63e42261e71ce6","parentId",5127737,"title","District updates capital projects, seeks equipment and flags warehouse space limits","audioSeconds",1228,"startMs",8051000,"endMs",9279000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5127737-cf90c109be30568cbc63e42261e71ce6&start=8051&end=9279","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5127737-cf90c109be30568cbc63e42261e71ce6/thumbnail_8051000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6552202/Pennsylvania/District-updates-capital-projects-seeks-equipment-and-flags-warehouse-space-limits","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6552202-2b3528715c2e31303f5e477f39c6d478/orig.mp4?Expires=1771155393&Signature=QQSAN4LSGTc6LQAHUWg1eZFpWdQp4YkdI~7u~oD5Lw2yj8gFhvDNcXNJ-lfLD8gHW-qVUOtqmSf-I4sOhtV2Yfjw0oBPSqTj-RD9XfebO1bUTf2MyP4GnKn864mRTT28dY2Bj8vfcKElzlhg0ZmTtmoCGErPyG8wPO09HAixM138qHZyDiAeXWpdzHVnbAKfXzWvqSCsdlItIkT1Y-79zFcxwrqpDsjqijYOpIjMrnrQX9QxYmhledxYVMhu35am0mGBPjfwV5ZM1WFpibaHRwxDz0TAkRHL3zgrvh5etBYcmst7WklYBPijZFnHZSctghRULp7yqXqIlOyvPpT6lA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Scranton School District","date","2025-07-03T02:07:24Z","article","Operations staff gave the committee a status update on current capital projects, requested purchase of trade vehicles and equipment and raised concerns about warehouse capacity.

Capital project highlights:
- West Grama Intermediate: Classroom renovations, ceiling and lighting installations, AV/cabling work and courtyard improvements are in progress. Contractors are coordinating abatement, ceiling grid installation and camera cabling; operations staff said work remains on schedule.
- Scranton High School boilers: Demolition began in mid‑June and replacement boilers were staged; staff said replacement is necessary because the existing boilers had exceeded useful life and required frequent reactive maintenance.
- Fire alarm replacements: Projects at South Scranton Intermediate and West Scranton High School are under way, with field surveys and utility markouts completed and biweekly construction meetings ongoing; abatement at South Scranton Intermediate was reported to be progressing.

Equipment and procurement requests: Operations asked the board to include vehicles and equipment in the 2026 budget that support an expanding in‑house trades team: a plumber's van (needed now that the district has or anticipates new plumber staff), a bucket truck (for elevated electrical/signage work to reduce reliance on rentals) and a front‑end loader for grounds and snow removal (currently rented). Staff reported some grounds tractors are beyond repair and that owning equipment would be more cost‑effective than continued rentals.

Warehouse capacity: Staff said the central warehouse has reached a \"critical point\" for space and that bulk deliveries (copy paper, district supplies) and staging of district equipment are straining available storage. Directors encouraged staff to review delivery schedules and alternate staging or direct deliveries to schools where appropriate; procurement practices (blanket purchase orders with scheduled deliveries) were discussed as one option to reduce on‑site warehouse stock.

Safety and code compliance: Staff said the district has continued coordination with the City of Scranton code authority and the Scranton Fire Department on code and life‑safety matters. A recent structural review of a retaining wall found no immediate hazard, staff said, but monitoring and follow‑up were recommended.

Meeting close and votes: The committee adjourned at the end of the meeting. A motion to adjourn was made and seconded and the committee voice‑voted in favor (ayes).","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","2025-07-02 Scranton SD Operations Committee Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Operations provided status updates on West Grama Intermediate renovations, Scranton High boiler replacement and fire‑alarm upgrades; staff requested vehicles and equipment (plumber's van, bucket truck, front‑end loader) and warned that the central warehouse is near capacity.","taxTitle","Scranton SD, School Districts, Pennsylvania","taxId",78422,"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},6552207,"Operations staff asks board to budget a districtwide facilities condition assessment to create a living asset inventory",1612,5739000,7351000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5127737-cf90c109be30568cbc63e42261e71ce6&start=5739&end=7351","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5127737-cf90c109be30568cbc63e42261e71ce6/thumbnail_5739000.jpg","/articles/6552207/Pennsylvania/Operations-staff-asks-board-to-budget-a-districtwide-facilities-condition-assessment-to-create-a-living-asset-inventory","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6552207-6f64ef3a71ed6bbb40dcc70dff6dfbb4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771155393&Signature=kRTPPtvtb~IL875NKYikRFgI80g9f44~FJlh1RSbTg2CMpAiANsmShV8koo-~lwCCxMGvX1TeEBel~Y50TjOq4AhymfwJZ1cue~bBslzxgCQV10ULhATcKQsF3J69~vocpu9B7-39F8wVRay3taVIBVko~TaGkRF3BTFD3jebyOBP6qGxaMf18~HixClpdXkKYjYfkjOautaEPimylJFYXJkb1WVUdRdiZBBmjR15SppxlRNm130cLaP4Qz7wvJeDhzvU90ob-Ti2zU0t4e33o7cxGNRh83pBeI9Fv3We5cZz1hniK8BieCmW7E5-4wD6TLzzGh1TP~hg~7AwgGaUA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Operations staff asked the board to include a facilities condition assessment (FCA) in the 2026 budget to create a detailed, third‑party inventory of the district’s buildings, systems and site elements and to integrate that data into the district’s maintenance and asset management workflow.

Mister Rucker (presenting) said the FCA would be a system‑by‑system, asset‑by‑asset third‑party review using the Uniformat classification system, encompassing roofs, boilers, electrical systems, HVAC components, plumbing, parking, fences and playgrounds. He said the FCA would produce a centralized, updatable inventory with condition ratings, remaining useful life and projected replacement costs to inform preventative maintenance and capital planning.

Why it matters: The FCA is intended to move the district from reactive repairs toward planned, data‑driven capital investment and to comply with board policy on asset tracking. Staff said the FCA would produce living data to be maintained in the district’s Operations Hero work‑order and asset system and used to schedule preventive maintenance and optimize replacement timing.

Staff described how FCA outputs would be used. Operations staff said individual assets (for example a unit ventilator and its motor) would be cataloged as parent and child assets so work orders and historic repairs are tied to the specific component. That linkage would allow managers to quantify the recurring repair costs of a failing component and make replacement decisions based on lifecycle cost rather than ad‑hoc repair.

Cost and timing: Staff estimated the FCA for the district’s approximately 2,000,000 square feet of building space could be completed by a professional team and provided a rough cost ballpark of about $125,000. The presenter described a 2–5 month on‑site and reporting timeframe for a comprehensive assessment, with ongoing maintenance of the database handled through district staff and the Operations Hero platform.

Board members asked implementation questions, including who would maintain the inventory after the FCA is completed and whether the work would be a one‑time assessment or repeated. Staff said the FCA is a large upfront data collection that would be maintained by the asset manager and facilities staff thereafter, with periodic audits or targeted re‑assessments as needed. Staff suggested the assessment be procured through professional services and noted procurement rules for such services in Pennsylvania.

Board feedback and next steps: Directors generally supported the concept but asked for a formal scope and implementation plan and recommended that administration return with formal quotes and a detailed plan for how the district will keep the data current. Staff said they would seek formal proposals and provide a written implementation plan for the board’s August or fall budget deliberations.","Facilities staff requested inclusion of a facilities condition assessment (FCA) in the fiscal‑2026 budget, estimating roughly $125,000, to catalog assets, produce condition ratings and integrate findings into the district's Operations Hero system for preventive maintenance and long‑term capital planning.",{"_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},6552211,"Two firms present gym feasibility concepts for West Scranton High; district weighs sites, cost and multipurpose uses",1451,1964000,3415000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5127737-cf90c109be30568cbc63e42261e71ce6&start=1964&end=3415","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5127737-cf90c109be30568cbc63e42261e71ce6/thumbnail_1964000.jpg","/articles/6552211/Pennsylvania/Two-firms-present-gym-feasibility-concepts-for-West-Scranton-High-district-weighs-sites-cost-and-multipurpose-uses","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6552211-fcad421114a29a5cb71ad48fff0f8887/orig.mp4?Expires=1771155393&Signature=Gnt3sUsqCJxK8bvO~Ei889vNJ-fGf2YQHraFUgdM0ei7FIsCi45hrROqKACwKdrdcf6f-AWM6egP~d4pEjvJkdNdVtQDmQfWEDLJGZg9g3dzjTidq8r1UXgr8m0DyRTCnW-wEENUyDvGdwCdbnJzwf5xkSBwfWZclDVMO71wyY2YaibusZyYtxzStF6nUTQWx5oysEtUFFTRxYc-xn-nYzPM8UZU-BOopY2ArE7dWNSyEBhnO2lfIzSpJCEZRx3zA9HXOC7C-3RndC2M-DJYGJiH3aYJ-VFxINjtYpnMcwWe~uIuWdZQ5YxPNp-R8Ci8zhpDndPz713IVz1uG9R75w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Two architectural and engineering teams presented concept studies and cost guidance to the Scranton School District Operations Committee on July 3 for a possible new gymnasium serving West Scranton High School and nearby district needs.

Studio KLP Architects showed renderings and case‑study projects and described options for siting a freestanding gym at Isaac Tripp or as an addition at West Grant (West Scranton). Principal Paul Lewis introduced the Studio KLP team and said the firm has worked on local athletic and recreational projects and delivered feasibility concepts sized to match district needs.

A second team led by CHA representatives, including licensed professional engineer Areif Fazil and estimator Jim Hanna, presented an integrated approach that emphasized clear owner criteria, stakeholder engagement, and detailed budget line items. Fazil described the firm’s local track record and noted that external reviews will be required because the West Scranton High building is historic and any exterior changes will need review by the local historic board.

Why it matters: The district has discussed a West‑side gym for a decade. A new facility could serve athletics, community use, expanded program space (classrooms/cyber instruction), and reduce recurring lease costs for off‑site programs. Cost, parking, utility capacity and grant funding feasibility will determine whether a project advances.

Key presentation points and numbers:
- Studio KLP referenced prior feasibility work (2013) that priced gym options between roughly $4.8 million and $6.2 million for a 1,200‑seat layout and noted multiple site options.
- CHA estimated current new‑construction costs in the market at a minimum of about $400 per square foot for a conventional gym structure, and said that building on the historic West Scranton High footprint could carry a premium because of infrastructure work and code/historic reviews.
- CHA showed a 4–5 month schedule for a feasibility study that would include owner criteria, site surveys, concept plans and cost estimates; the firm described a deliverable that Pat Laffey (business manager) could take to lenders for preliminary budgeting.

Directors asked practical questions about daily operations and student access. Director (unnamed in transcript) asked whether West Grant students would still receive gym classes at their building if a freestanding gym were built at Isaac Tripp; Superintendent Keating said daily PE would continue at the students' home building and the new gym would be used for events, practices and community programming.

Board members were receptive to multipurpose designs. \"I see this as a multipurpose room, not just a gym,\" one director said, noting potential classroom or cyber program space and community use. Both firms said programming choices (number of seats, locker rooms, ancillary spaces, concessions, parking) materially change cost and footprint and must be decided before firm cost estimations can be produced.

Grant and staffing context: Directors asked whether the district has a grant writer to pursue capital grants. Administration said the shared grant writer position with the city has been vacant for months and hiring was paused while the district awaited clarity on state and federal budgets; staff said the district will seek copies of the firms' PDFs and that CHA and Studio KLP would deliver formal PDFs of their presentations.

Next steps: Both firms supplied summary handouts and indicated they will send the full PDF presentations to the district. Any progression from feasibility study to design and construction will depend on: (1) the board establishing program criteria (size, seating, multipurpose spaces); (2) funding/grant availability and staffing to pursue it; and (3) site and infrastructure assessments for parking, stormwater and electrical capacity.","Studio KLP and CHA (with partners) presented renderings, budgets and schedule options for a potential West Scranton High School gymnasium. Directors emphasized multipurpose programming and cautioned on budget and grant staffing limits.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6552215,"Scranton SD pauses reconfiguration planning amid surge in special-education enrollment and federal funding uncertainty",1615,344000,1959000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5127737-cf90c109be30568cbc63e42261e71ce6&start=344&end=1959","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5127737-cf90c109be30568cbc63e42261e71ce6/thumbnail_344000.jpg","/articles/6552215/Pennsylvania/Scranton-SD-pauses-reconfiguration-planning-amid-surge-in-special-education-enrollment-and-federal-funding-uncertainty","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6552215-8f68edf5509bb7de366c39175585fab2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771155393&Signature=AXPWxEtCp3mRnOwGkogd00GEq06vXGPwN0pRcO5ribCs-C~XCnn55lYmrp0teS8L8AtG~yMXNa1NIwgm7UptSQkM0UAYzevsdAmEjEP~ZhIKex~QTMXFRj9zLQRlq7QDttMuWQ5gX2Ap1y2mDnLOq5yijRiSOqI44qLZ2Ku-4vyyuvoNWGJJKn48MAmvc8xCPvi066GpWvVJ64ONQP7zs7ZhX8coJGZ5CEg~bxXUadsbMvgteOhajrhE3cVivX4lc09eb4q~3JbyoQtQ9PZqmM4ip5MjMJ29UEZExmjC0iXbFUwvZdNZgYjq7zmFNEklh4lvH3BVq7U98AZxRzE6vw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Superintendent Doctor Keating told the Scranton School District Operations Committee on July 3 that the district will pause work on school reconfiguration and consolidation planning until it can determine whether recent spikes in special‑education enrollments and other enrollment anomalies are a trend or a one‑time surge.

Keating said the district has seen an unusually large rise in students needing full‑time autistic support and in early‑intervention (birth–5) transitions this year, and urged the board to wait for additional enrollment data (the October 1 PIMS snapshot and subsequent opening‑of‑school counts) before committing to construction or consolidation decisions.

Why it matters: The pause affects any plans to consolidate schools or pursue new construction as part of a reconfiguration plan and shifts the district toward short‑term contingency planning while it gathers required data and assesses compliance obligations for special‑education students.

Keating summarized the recent changes in special‑education demand and enrollment. \"One of the most staggering statistics in there is that in 2020, we had 26 full time autistic support classes ... On the first day of school in 2025, we will have 43 full time autistic support classes,\" he said. He added that early‑intervention transitions had risen to \"over a 140 this year\" compared with high years of about 60–90 previously. Keating said the district had opened additional classrooms within weeks in the prior year and has identified two tentative classroom spaces for this year but needs the October 1 PIMS enrollment snapshot and the first‑weeks opening data to know whether higher demand will continue.

Keating noted regulatory constraints that shape facility needs for specific student populations. \"Special education students ... you must have 28 square foot per child in the space that you provide them, the classroom space. And pre k is actually 35 feet per child,\" he said, citing the space requirements that influence planning and capacity decisions.

Board and staff discussion focused on short‑term operational impacts and funding uncertainty. Keating told directors that federal Title 2 and Title 3 funds were frozen at the time the applications were due: \"the Federal Government ... froze all money for title 2 and title 3,\" he said, explaining that the Department of Education was allowing Title 1 and Title 4 submissions but had not released guidance or allocations for Titles 2 and 3. The district's federal programs coordinator, Maggie Murphy, had completed the application before the freeze, Keating said.

At least one board member raised broader fiscal concerns tied to state and federal changes and urged fiscal caution. A board member asked the board to direct business office staff to impose \"an immediate purchasing freeze as of September 1\" to create time to assess likely revenue impacts, citing potential reductions in Medicaid receipts and other local revenue uncertainties. The speaker also urged a joint meeting with the newly elected congressman and area superintendents in the intermediate unit to press for federal support. Those suggestions were presented as requests for board direction rather than formal, board‑adopted policies during the meeting.

The superintendent and board members repeatedly stressed that legal obligations for identified students remain binding while the district evaluates capacity. Keating noted federal and state special‑education law as the framework for required services: \"The IDEA, the Individuals with Disability Education Act, cover the laws that protect students who are identified. In Pennsylvania, that falls under the chapter 14 regulations,\" he said, emphasizing the district's duty to provide appropriate placements.

The committee did not take any formal vote on reconfiguration or on a purchasing freeze at the meeting. Keating said he will return with follow‑up data after the October 1 PIMS snapshot and after staff complete opening‑of‑school attendance and program placement counts to support any future recommendations.

Sources and next steps: Keating identified October 1 PIMS data and opening‑of‑school special‑education placements as the near‑term evidence he needs to recommend next steps. He also said the district will continue outreach to families and to the special‑education department to track transitions during the early weeks of school.","Superintendent recommended pausing long‑range school reconfiguration while the district tracks a rapid rise in full‑time autistic support classes and waits for clarity on frozen federal Title 2 and 3 funds. A board member proposed a purchasing freeze pending budget clarity.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

District updates capital projects, seeks equipment and flags warehouse space limits

Operations staff asks board to budget a districtwide facilities condition assessment to create a living asset inventory

Two firms present gym feasibility concepts for West Scranton High; district weighs sites, cost and multipurpose uses

Scranton SD pauses reconfiguration planning amid surge in special-education enrollment and federal funding uncertainty