The Edwardsburg Public Schools Board of Education voted to approve a change order of $246,428.01 to finish a previously authorized traffic loop and widen sidewalks at the primary and intermediate school entrances, the board announced during its regular meeting.

The change order covers the "pork chop" lane connection from the intermediate to the middle-school drive and widens sidewalks near the primary and intermediate buildings to increase student safety, a staff presenter said. The work will be paid from leftover allowances and contingencies in the original bond project; the presenter said the bond account still had about $318,000 available and the bulletin including this work will come in below that remaining balance.

The board was told concrete was priced lower than asphalt for this portion of the work and that using concrete will allow crews to complete the work this fall rather than waiting until spring. "We did price out both asphalt and concrete and actually concrete came in cheaper than the asphalt," the presenter said.

Board members asked about long-term upkeep and whether the district still planned to connect the loop to Route 12. The presenter said the Route 12 tie-in remains in the bond scope but is "dead" for this phase because the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) has not granted approval for that connection and the district's traffic consultant concluded an alternate church connection would be unsafe. "At this moment, yes. We've had no approval," the presenter said of the Route 12 tie-in.

A motion to approve the change order was made, seconded and carried on a voice vote. The board chair called for votes and members responded "Aye." The motion passed and the district will proceed with the concrete tie-in and expanded sidewalks as part of the bond project.

The board then moved to a work session for discussion of district data; no further board actions were taken during the work session.