[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-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",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_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",6460494,"mediaKeyId","5860664-410f3bb2e5d71b5628ac2c2a3f9cac1d","parentId",5860664,"title","Township delays York Suburban intermediate school contracts after late engineering comments; low bids leave room for alternates","audioSeconds",1319,"startMs",2159000,"endMs",3478000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5860664-410f3bb2e5d71b5628ac2c2a3f9cac1d&start=2159&end=3478","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5860664-410f3bb2e5d71b5628ac2c2a3f9cac1d/thumbnail_2159000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6460494/Pennsylvania/Township-delays-York-Suburban-intermediate-school-contracts-after-late-engineering-comments-low-bids-leave-room-for-alternates","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6460494-2fe8c51ca6d618ee79b74e318eaf9a7f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770449689&Signature=Gs~evHf1bpkNMP9TECb5eL7edFSC1nFpGIUxjE7XLbF~j2vFX2LKRksLfkfnu3mCpGq-jXftaMilqqqhhE13MiQ8J-7bUIIZsMW40~PrcDcG4xs0eh1rUglyep29JIxugk2Xq8LMTQy7Sn060pt-NA1~pWWneXoS55KBQ8pVftpQHO1A2B4S-~P7mX5SPYkt7261VyChG1vdy9g8CAGNZJuOn3viWb~auP973p0G83-DhBlDuvx7bqtllGAoTbmkf~Pt-MbHUVwkJQfxki5GPiPpt76nEkbApExyqrBKl1sBmM2qenS3H4akV02iAwCN-P8bdPQoOLQAUfdW0771xQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","York Suburban School Board","date","2025-09-30T13:19:09Z","article","Bids for York Suburban School District’s intermediate school project totaled about $39.55 million for the prime contracts — general, HVAC, plumbing and electrical — roughly $1.25 million under the district’s Act 34 estimate and within the allowable 10% contingency, district consultants told the board on Sept. 29.

The project’s schedule and the district’s ability to issue a notice to proceed are now contingent on resolving a set of township concerns that arrived late to the project engineers. Township supervisors tabled action on the plan Sept. 25 after the township engineer’s comments were delivered to the project team the day of the supervisors’ meeting, the district’s architect said.

District consultant Wentz said the permit and contract steps that precede a notice to proceed include contract execution, insurance, recorded plans and building-permit issuance. “As soon as you have the recorded plan with the building permit, then you’re able to issue that notice to proceed,” he said.

Why it matters: The Act 34 approval sets a budget ceiling for school construction. The district’s 06/24/2025 Act 34 estimate was about $40.80 million; the maximum allowable on bid day (Act 34 + 10%) would be about $44 million. With base bids at roughly $39.55 million, the district has room to accept alternates that affect educational spaces, officials said.

What stopped the supervisors: Wentz and civil engineers told the board the township’s written comments focused on four areas: a dual bus turning radius at the Sundale entry, site work within an easement, an additional inlet calculation for stormwater inlet 325, and generator noise calculations that meet township decibel requirements. Wentz said the district’s team developed alternate drawings and planned a follow-up meeting with township engineers to address the issues.

Bids and alternates: The architect said the base bid included an educational alternate — an expanded “authentic learning lab” that makes collaborative learning spaces two stories instead of one — so the base bid already reflected that program change. Sixteen bidders participated across the prime contracts; many prime bids were close, the architect said, which he called a sign that bid documents were well-assembled.

Timing and risks: District consultants outlined a path that could keep the project’s substantial completion date in July 2027, but only if the district and township can move through the remainder of the review, the planning-committee recommendation and a board contract vote within the district’s planned timeline. The consultants warned that recorded plans and building-permit issuance are prerequisites to issuing the notice to proceed and starting contract durations.

Potential cost and change management: The architects told the board that if changes are needed after award, the district would use construction change directives and architectural supplemental instructions to update drawings and request change orders. Wentz said the likely cost impact for adjustments such as small curb shifts would be minimal, but legal agreements or escrow arrangements could be needed where site work occurs inside utility easements.

Public concerns and board remarks: Several residents and board members raised safety and process concerns during public comment and board discussion. Neighbors questioned whether two buses could safely pass at the Sundale entrance and asked about storm-drain replacements, sidewalk locations and impacts to nearby roads. Board member David Sanders and others pressed consultants about why the township review material was not shared earlier and cited the $2.4 million the district has spent to date on professional fees as a source of taxpayer concern.

What’s next: Consultants said they expected to meet again with township engineers to walk through the late comments and return to the planning committee for a recommendation before the board would vote on awarding contracts. No formal contract award vote occurred at the Sept. 29 meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","2025-09-29 Board Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Bids for York Suburban School District’s intermediate school came in under the Act 34 estimate, but township supervisors tabled final approval after engineering comments arrived late; district officials say the bid results still keep the project on track for July 2027 if outstanding issues are resolved.","taxTitle","York Suburban SD, School Districts, Pennsylvania","taxId",60482,"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},6460479,"District rolls out Emergency Operations Plan, standard response protocols and training updates",1424,4609000,6033000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5860664-410f3bb2e5d71b5628ac2c2a3f9cac1d&start=4609&end=6033","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5860664-410f3bb2e5d71b5628ac2c2a3f9cac1d/thumbnail_4609000.jpg","/articles/6460479/Pennsylvania/District-rolls-out-Emergency-Operations-Plan-standard-response-protocols-and-training-updates","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6460479-76135cf990e1f5f3ea550e5d54ecdc4b/orig.mp4?Expires=1770449689&Signature=mXuPMRH9NZr7Hhd3yzZpahc4KaIzA6GpXNlP791Vzc6fnJxJG5lKrKN4Xjjpmzejf8fnkdAhhzt7RwgRTSeh2SpvpSZ378-C~UpN3ESwk6e1PHJzGpOEs2uidnSychgn5qSUxuc6erkGXvyARQnjyZvG3MhR31toPawetbaBpClQ4GMBcsFxm~gzz7~WEW44GbljOGGdgwegQF7hg7bakCgyC7-Sql7bH3BVse9S8DhrqrIT--dBFfitBSs0cSVsncACQXqiu3xNZbyaCzZKpDXOgZoJ3Bqr8zjgzj3HyibMmhKSiv~ftoioyfuhn~NWSv4t6FY-nPBttD4w7oeA5w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","York Suburban School District administrators told the board Sept. 29 they have replaced an older, lengthy all-hazards manual with a more concise Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) format and are rolling out consistent “standard response protocol” signage and training across buildings.

Assistant Superintendent Dr. Orfink said the EOP aligns with guidance from FEMA and the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency and was reviewed over the past year by building-level teams, teachers and principals so the plans are operationally useful. The EOP condenses information so staff can find appropriate emergency steps quickly, Orfink said.

Standard response protocols and training: The district is adopting the five-symbol standard response protocol popularized by the I Love You Guys Foundation — hold, secure, lockdown, evacuate and shelter — and has posted signage in every classroom and public area. Staff and students are receiving age-appropriate training on the protocols, Orfink said.

Staff training and readiness: The district ran summer training for positive behavior intervention teams, de-escalation (“safety care”) training for staff, CPR and first-aid sessions and grief counseling resources for staff via a regional provider. Nurses and counselors attended a two-day drug-impairment training. The district will deliver naloxone refreshers and plans family-reunification exercises; administrators said they plan to assemble an administrative “team” to assist building offices in a large reunification event.

Stop-the-bleed and CPR: Officials said stop-the-bleed training is not included in the single-day staff course but remains a separate course the district plans to refresh; districtwide CPR training is provided on a rotating schedule with some sessions held this summer and a larger refresh planned next year.

Operational details and drills: The district requires after-action reporting for drills and reviews procedures to identify corrective steps. Orfink said local emergency-management officials and county emergency-management staff reviewed the plans. The district will also track drill documentation that is required by the state.

Public questions: Parents and residents asked how outside classes, recess or athletic events will receive timely communications in an emergency; the district said communications could include loudspeaker, radios and cellphones and that in some emergencies the best immediate action might be for an outdoor teacher to remain outside rather than return to the building. Board members also asked for counts of staff certified in CPR and for routine scheduling of stop-the-bleed refreshers; administrators said they will provide details.","York Suburban reported a year-long shift from an all-hazards manual to an Emergency Operations Plan format, adoption of standard response protocol signage and new staff training including naloxone refreshers, reunification planning and planned stop-the-bleed retraining.",{"_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},6460484,"Board takes first reading of revised whistleblower policy; members ask for clarity on misconduct and reporting timelines",335,1690000,2025000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5860664-410f3bb2e5d71b5628ac2c2a3f9cac1d&start=1690&end=2025","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5860664-410f3bb2e5d71b5628ac2c2a3f9cac1d/thumbnail_1690000.jpg","/articles/6460484/Pennsylvania/Board-takes-first-reading-of-revised-whistleblower-policy-members-ask-for-clarity-on-misconduct-and-reporting-timelines","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6460484-e31982d427f0ad1339f06f651e255842/orig.mp4?Expires=1770449689&Signature=mzjkBZ6sDzJKwU-Ehl1XzuceLYZZWkarTb60KORNlBnEQDMCtDAvbkukxb6sL5Q7GReLwy8kLcgzGo0RVA5-jPoeqQnMGWxGkqzHOTqoUk9QzbA1~n~~zBg-Hc5lyqb~yZEeoflNTc3~63TwMAGIdKBHdms5BN9guFzgaDY9tOy15kaucec98pZGdX76fH0C3XCavpdvl-BG7gjB-ZLki-PhceADVTtQKeXZW6D0cQ6c62fl~x~hAIqhjbFODzmtXzUZCoL~9W3N8wXVM0a5ZSPST94h9Clb6TeqBAXgVwLlZOxWHWffF-JZ6ZX85hck7vivjCkPaosEfJsb78YQEQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The York Suburban School District board conducted a first reading Sept. 29 of a revised whistleblower policy that clarifies reporting processes and tightens language on timelines and who may be covered by protections, but board members requested several textual clarifications.

Superintendent Dr. Krauser told the board the policy had been revised and that the district had “returned back to the state's definition of misconduct” in some places, but a board member clarified that the state policy does not define “misconduct” and that the district’s policy would therefore include its own definition. The district’s counsel provided guidance that state policy does not set a single definition and that legal review advised how misconduct could be handled in the district policy.

Reporting timelines and definitions: Board members pressed administrators about inconsistent references in the draft policy to “calendar days” in one section and “business days” in another. Administrators said the district had tried to match the timeline language used in other district policies but agreed to review the draft to align the terminology consistently.

Scope and board role: The draft includes language clarifying the role of a compliance officer and indicates that the board as a whole may not be the initial decisionmaker on factual determinations about alleged misconduct. Board members sought confirmation that the board’s role would be consistent with legal guidance and not to serve as the first-level fact finder for every report.

Public comment and requests: During public comment, a resident urged the board to add a preliminary investigative step handled by a small group (compliance officer and counsel) before the full board receives whistleblower reports, to reduce the risk of unverified allegations becoming community chatter. The commenter also argued the policy should treat references to officers and counsel as roles rather than naming persons.

Next steps: Administrators said the policy would return for additional review and a second reading after suggested language changes to clarify the definitions, timeline references and the role of the compliance officer and board.","The York Suburban board reviewed a revised whistleblower policy in its first reading, discussing the policy’s reliance on state definitions, distinctions between calendar and business days in reporting timelines, who may report and the board’s role in investigating complaints.",{"_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},6460489,"High school site plan redraws parking and stormwater; plan keeps bus stacking and reduces net spaces by 10",1133,3466000,4599000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5860664-410f3bb2e5d71b5628ac2c2a3f9cac1d&start=3466&end=4599","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5860664-410f3bb2e5d71b5628ac2c2a3f9cac1d/thumbnail_3466000.jpg","/articles/6460489/Pennsylvania/High-school-site-plan-redraws-parking-and-stormwater-plan-keeps-bus-stacking-and-reduces-net-spaces-by-10","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6460489-22e78d56105fba53647f463aba0d3fb5/orig.mp4?Expires=1770449689&Signature=dnI3QT1dHTcJsDiDoKWkEchIkDqPMZcqQDcxO8d-gKOcXiObRqYJaqr9nbkGe2ARndPCvfnjL-OvQ1NfcE0AeURu4DQuuGlr3w8u6DUF7IWwm9duCRqLh2v9SC5DNcYnvySpzb7OYODWbqCaIoHLFsFwmI7KihZM6RM8d1kWaAHs3SNUb337eUMRK4tmqlComehX4SVVztkPqANuYuyqzHLzR08ZoALGcrpDyKPD1R9t~HuNY4z~xnx2WEZLRuoxQDY2MyuLbch2L9fkFYNpWa7RuQH6Yfz0NU-Xjs2D2ZeeeMt3RX2o1vTnsbhJFvF5Q1geBZvAo7kLgK3i0GXEoQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","York Suburban School District’s consultants presented a high school site plan Sept. 29 that reconfigures the front loop and parking aisles to improve traffic flow, preserves dedicated bus circulation and adds two underground stormwater infiltration facilities to meet township and state requirements.

Chad Smith, the civil engineer on the project, said the revised layout maintains bus stacking at the previous location and creates a continuous one-way circulation in front of the building to ease parent pickup and reduce congestion. The plan preserves four primary access points on the site and avoids major frontage work on the state highway to limit schedule risk tied to a highway-occupancy permit, the consultants said.

Parking and circulation: The reconfigured front and flanking parking areas will result in 339 total on-site spaces, down from 349 existing spaces, the engineers said. Much of that loss stems from the new building footprint. Consultants said they will phase construction and manage staging so the school remains operational during work; specific phased parking counts will be developed during the land-development and construction-phase planning.

Stormwater and site work: The plan adds two underground infiltration facilities designed to meet township stormwater ordinance and the state NPDES requirements; the larger facility will handle runoff from the front parking and discharge to a designated existing outfall, while the smaller facility addresses runoff associated with the building expansion. The engineering team reported subsurface infiltration testing found usable soils roughly 100 yards east of the parking area where infiltration rates were sufficient to place the underground chambers.

Landscaping and zoning: Site plans include interior island landscaping to meet zoning requirements (roughly 5% of impervious cover in interior landscaping), and engineers used hatch patterns (instead of full islands) in some rows to assist winter maintenance and plowing while meeting ordinance requirements.

Construction impacts and phasing: Consultants said they will prepare a detailed construction-phasing plan that identifies temporary losses of parking during different phases of the build and that they will consider off-site options, community partners and staging areas to reduce neighborhood parking impacts. The team told the board that an exact estimate of temporary parking loss depends on the sequencing and had not been finalized.

Public questions: Board members and residents asked how many parking spaces would be unavailable during construction and suggested outreach to community sites such as nearby houses of worship for temporary parking. Residents in the audience and commenters later in the meeting reiterated concerns about impacts to adjacent streets and about safe two-way bus movements at the Sundale entry used by the intermediate school project.

Next steps: The engineering team said the plan as presented meets township stormwater and zoning requirements and will move forward with land-development submittals and construction-phase logistics after the planning-review steps and any required permits are resolved.","Engineers presented a high school site plan that reconfigures parking and circulation, preserves bus stacking, adds underground infiltration facilities to meet township stormwater requirements and results in a net loss of about 10 on-site spaces.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6460474,"Board approves consent agenda items; practicum articulation with Liberty University passes 8–1",300,5998000,6298000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5860664-410f3bb2e5d71b5628ac2c2a3f9cac1d&start=5998&end=6298","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5860664-410f3bb2e5d71b5628ac2c2a3f9cac1d/thumbnail_5998000.jpg","/articles/6460474/Pennsylvania/Board-approves-consent-agenda-items-practicum-articulation-with-Liberty-University-passes-81","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6460474-7977b8ac721a5fa123583775266cc6fd/orig.mp4?Expires=1770449689&Signature=SE04G706obXDpZdb~vcvHHP25r4SjcbqXTMvinaeFY5rkn23W3F7emV5OJgq0JVHmzQxjSfWAiheQVTfKEJWuPS7o2~4XVXqcK8DWeYUQMs0bOw3rQnu5B1wztcKlzUEUsBuWqcE4ug6OVAmd0q10IzN9igJ~HWVGp3MWNp42gi2ljCdo9sAUQQL9Wy0KSwIML-MZn5sbHf2xape-T1Fh-10pIIKPc7mmP2rJOjEdFBYcrWRMHi1Xt47952wYn8XGJ00Jz~Wf4QsGJ0cNGOb~2NsGMJMujWbL7A5Ts4ZozNoFSs9N2wbkcERpGJ36Zl1TbrGjQNfK1kaenka4BgYKQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","York Suburban’s board approved the bulk of its consent agenda Sept. 29 after pulling one item for separate consideration. All consent items except the pulled item were approved by unanimous voice vote, the board president said.

The board then considered item 9.1b, a practicum articulation agreement with Liberty University. Board members discussed that the agreement would facilitate a single student from Virginia transferring certification to Pennsylvania. The board voted 8–1 to approve the Liberty University practicum articulation agreement; Dr. Hessett cast the lone “no” vote, and the board clerk confirmed an 8–1 outcome.

Earlier in the meeting, the board also approved nominations for PSBA officer candidates that the board had discussed Sept. 11; that approval was recorded as unanimous.

What was not specified: The minutes and materials attached to the consent agenda include multiple entries and policies under item 9.1j; the board chair asked if any member wanted any consent item considered separately and proceeded after a member asked to pull item 9.1e. The transcript does not record the mover or seconder by name for each motion.","The board approved its consent agenda with one item pulled for separate consideration; a practicum articulation agreement with Liberty University, noted as for a single out-of-state student moving certification to Pennsylvania, passed on an 8–1 vote.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Township delays York Suburban intermediate school contracts after late engineering comments; low bids leave room for alternates

District rolls out Emergency Operations Plan, standard response protocols and training updates

Board takes first reading of revised whistleblower policy; members ask for clarity on misconduct and reporting timelines

High school site plan redraws parking and stormwater; plan keeps bus stacking and reduces net spaces by 10

Board approves consent agenda items; practicum articulation with Liberty University passes 8–1