District moves forward on DCED-funded projects after bid openings; board asks for updated estimates and clearer capital plan

The East Stroudsburg Area School District Property & Facilities Committee voted Wednesday to recommend moving forward with notices to proceed on several capital projects tied to a Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) grant and to accept low bids for the work, while members demanded updated cost estimates and better communication after bids exceeded earlier budget figures.

The committee approved recommending notices to proceed for the JT Lambert data network cabling replacement, the Smithfield Elementary School boiler replacement and North Campus stormwater Phase 3, and accepted contract awards for several projects. Rutledge Excavating was the low bidder for stormwater Phase 3 at $237,759; JDM Mechanical was awarded the JT Lambert boiler and domestic hot water replacement at about $712,000; and the Smithfield boiler low bid went to JBM Mechanical. Committee members also asked that the notices to proceed be amended so the construction estimate fields reflect the actual bid numbers rather than year-old grant estimates.

The vote followed sustained discussion about how projects tied…