[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-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],{"_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",6454076,"mediaKeyId","5871054-9552a9d8f2784b9559e2f95b5b40ad5e","parentId",5871054,"title","Bensalem board tables decision on proposed \"mega\" middle school after debate over cost data","audioSeconds",2095,"startMs",1019000,"endMs",3114000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5871054-9552a9d8f2784b9559e2f95b5b40ad5e&start=1019&end=3114","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5871054-9552a9d8f2784b9559e2f95b5b40ad5e/thumbnail_1019000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6454076/Pennsylvania/Bensalem-board-tables-decision-on-proposed-mega-middle-school-after-debate-over-cost-data","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6454076-e61f2e0cb39b372bff220fa864163dcb/orig.mp4?Expires=1771038671&Signature=kWvwzDuHFMipQonZhaIlh6kjeHOGsOcQ98NzyZvvYn5bTz0O7eI2yBbNdSGo1QI~jB3T6pAlNoTDgqa2wDnpFb5fbdsx7d2z~nAD5W8kCm62MUZXbyTkXdFV~~qvEbgA0Fd0FeW~6eiKT3cygl4vDUUE-gLQHkjsea0M~aC-UtbyKuIsuaChM0SwCgFY5t0it4i11WnUJbhA7cQlzftP3spKbEXIQJuf~IHcmYsuqykvZ1SpSxnE-3m2mSIVFCbdRSouUJKcw-6N90iL-1ZPfsocf9qlE9pG-hq~sQ4C6YaYlSun-QLZGqaMSWGSAE2no64QNIv2rkfQysgZRpAVsQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Bensalem Township School District","date","2025-09-30T00:00:00Z","article","The Bensalem Township School District Board of School Directors on Tuesday voted 5–3 to table agenda items L1–L4, postponing a decision on whether to build a new \"mega\" middle school or pursue renovation options.

Board members said the cost information presented to them contained inconsistent escalation assumptions and other errors that made apples-to-apples comparison impossible. The board committed to returning to the item after staff corrects and clarifies the figures; the business affairs committee will receive updated numbers on Oct. 15.

Members of the public and students urged the board to weigh costs, health and operational impacts before deciding. \"The highest form of efficacy is, of course, all of those that I am seeing around this table that are the elected,\" said George Zacker, a 26-year Penn Salem teacher who spoke during public comment about the need for careful planning. Community member Kate Pascucci brought photos she said documented leaks, stains and mold in school spaces and said, \"It's time to fix what's broken first.\" Recent graduate Andre Warner urged the board to choose a cheaper renovation path, citing a June estimate that placed options in a $155 million–$165 million range and warning that actual project costs commonly rise.

Board discussion focused on the presentation errors. Several board members said option E's costs were escalated to 2027 while options A and C were escalated only to 2025, creating a mismatch in comparisons. One board member described the inconsistency as a material error that needed correction before a public vote. Another board member said contingency and soft costs — including remediation for asbestos in older buildings — could add substantially to renovation estimates and cited a commonly used planning contingency of about 30% for complicated projects.

Mr. Pettyjohn moved to table L1–L4; the motion passed on roll call 5–3. Recorded votes were: Yes — Mr. Pettyjohn, Mr. Patel, Dr. King, Mr. Cohen and Ms. Rivera; No — Ms. Mara, Ms. Brandes and Ms. Winters. The board chair noted eight members were present and that Ms. Nicholas was absent.

Speakers and some board members urged a prompt return to the question. One board member said the community deserved a vote before the November election and urged that corrected, simplified figures be presented so residents can understand \"what this is going to cost me,\" including hard costs, soft costs and contingency. Another member said the district must also resolve related decisions — such as the future of Snyder — once the board chooses between building new and renovating.

The board said it will have staff rework and correct the cost comparisons and present the updated information at the business affairs meeting on Oct. 15; the board noted that meeting will not be livestreamed and encouraged public attendance.

Ending: The board did not adopt any construction plan Tuesday. The district will present corrected cost comparisons and other clarifying materials at an upcoming meeting before any vote is taken.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Board Meeting (2025-09-30)","oneSentenceSummary","The Bensalem Township School District Board of School Directors voted 5–3 to table agenda items L1–L4 concerning construction and renovation options for middle schools after members said the cost comparisons contained inconsistent escalation assumptions and the public pressed for clearer figures.","taxTitle","Bensalem Township SD, School Districts, Pennsylvania","taxId",72586,"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},6454071,"Board approves consent agenda, reappoints Bucks County Technical authority representative and signs multiple confidential settlement agreements",1594,1586000,3180000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5871054-9552a9d8f2784b9559e2f95b5b40ad5e&start=1586&end=3180","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5871054-9552a9d8f2784b9559e2f95b5b40ad5e/thumbnail_1586000.jpg","/articles/6454071/Pennsylvania/Board-approves-consent-agenda-reappoints-Bucks-County-Technical-authority-representative-and-signs-multiple-confidential-settlement-agreements","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6454071-c264a8675a646674d5563593131bcc80/orig.mp4?Expires=1771038671&Signature=gzjjilfIBp86yx4YgsHxMTJxba~jlj6ESyBEUD4MQXhCgqrb0Pggus1WSnv0RWRewncoWbxEljrOqER0Rj5qtdu4mwWNn8s~syoQ~A9h7KlSAmmxBtxFGhrLJoihbVxI8ODmISfWkmoAOgzy9eYx7bnzF097OpACyt84SP47ztT1pAFeTPNUqBg3PpEujuE8pqBTi8EhlzU5QgP5jwe~ej~YEcfNnzjpt36aJfEDtN01pxHmiycay5Od~gkySenN0IEsNMBgkOC2AREEQWgBqspGsIh2NjyHu1vSjR4lpe~iMatDth8fD4FcG01Uw190CCACzLAylEiT2a~Spyy39A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Bensalem Township School District Board of School Directors on Tuesday approved its consent agenda, reappointed Harry R. Kramer as the district\u0000s representative to the Bucks County Technical High School Authority and approved a series of settlement and waiver agreements arising from confidential student matters.

The board approved the consent agenda by voice vote; the agenda included minutes, the treasurer's report, board policies, instructional affairs items (N1–N15), business affairs items (O1–O6) and personnel items (P1–P7). The meeting record does not provide a roll-call tally for the consent vote.

The board voted to reappoint Harry R. Kramer as the Bensalem representative to the Bucks County Technical High School Authority for a five-year term ending Jan. 2030. The motion carried by voice vote.

After meeting in executive session to discuss confidential student matters, the board moved in public session to approve settlement and waiver agreements listed on the agenda as N16 through N21. The meeting transcript records motions and approvals for each listed student matter (noting that details of the agreements are confidential by the board's executive-session designation):

- N16: Motion to approve settlement agreement and release for Student A (executive-session confidential student matter). Motion seconded; approved by voice vote.
- N17: Motion to approve settlement agreement and release for Student B (executive-session confidential student matter). Motion seconded; approved by voice vote.
- N18: Motion to approve settlement agreement and release for Student C (executive-session confidential student matter). One board member said they would vote no, citing concern about incomplete legal advice; the motion nevertheless carried on a recorded voice roll-call with ayes and at least one recorded no.
- N19: Motion to approve settlement agreement and release for Student D (executive-session confidential student matter). Motion seconded; approved by voice vote.
- N20: Motion to approve settlement agreement and release for Student E (executive-session confidential student matter). Motion seconded; approved by voice vote.
- N21: Motion to approve settlement agreement and release for Student F (executive-session confidential student matter). Motion seconded; approved by voice vote.
- Waiver agreement for Student G: Motion seconded; approved by voice vote.

The transcript does not provide monetary amounts or substantive terms for the student settlement agreements; the board indicated those matters were discussed in executive session as \"confidential student matters.\" One board member publicly stated a reason for a no vote on one item: concern that \"we don't have complete legal advice on this one.\" The member was not explicitly named in the public portion where the vote occurred.

Ending: The board said it met in executive session prior to the public meeting for confidential student and personnel matters. The public record contains motions and outcomes but not the confidential settlement terms.","The Bensalem Township School District board approved routine consent items, reappointed Harry R. Kramer to the Bucks County Technical High School Authority and approved a series of settlement and waiver agreements for confidential student matters (agenda items N16–N21).","actionData","errors"]

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Bensalem board tables decision on proposed "mega" middle school after debate over cost data

Board approves consent agenda, reappoints Bucks County Technical authority representative and signs multiple confidential settlement agreements