Board advances purchase of about 17 acres for new K–8 school amid debate over construction manager

The Allentown School District advanced a proposal to acquire about 17 acres for a planned new K–8 school and moved forward with selecting a construction-management firm, actions that drew public comment and sparred board members over local contracting.

The finance committee voted to recommend approval of the land purchase after a presentation by district counsel and administration; members then approved forwarding a recommendation that the district engage SiteLogIQ (listed in committee documents as “site log IQ Construction Management”) for construction-management services at a flat fee of $978,873. The committee vote to forward both items carried and was scheduled for final action at the regular board meeting.

Why it matters: The new K–8 campus is the district’s major capital priority and will guide the district’s project budget, construction procurement, and neighborhood development. The choice of construction manager implicates how the district plans to control costs, select subcontractors and manage a project that will be a visible public investment.

Board and public discussion: During the finance committee discussion board members and the public raised concerns about awarding the construction-management role to a firm with no prior projects with the district. Board member Phoebe Harris objected to bypassing a local firm she said had donated substantial time and funding to the district’s programs and to students. “We grew our own, and we’re using somebody else,” Harris said during the committee discussion, later adding to the full board that she was “very disappointed.”

Several public commenters also criticized the land deal’s cost. One resident asked why the district was paying “$14,000,000” for land that a state official had previously indicated could be available; that comment was not contested by administration but the official sale price was not read into the committee record at the time of the presentation.

Administrative explanation: District counsel read the committee motion asking the board to authorize the solicitor to finalize and execute an agreement of sale with City Center Group for the improved land to be used as the new K–8 school. District staff said the parcel is roughly 17 acres and that the transaction is needed to secure a specific site while the district completes design and finance planning.

Termination of prior construction agreement: At the regular board meeting later the board adopted a separate action to terminate, for convenience, the earlier construction-management agreement with Alvin H. Butts (the transcript lists the company as “Alvin h. Butts/Butts”). The motion’s language said the board did not concede the prior contract remained in full force and effect and preserved the district’s legal rights; the roll-call vote recorded 5 in favor, 1 opposed.

What’s next: The construction-management contract and land purchase were carried forward to the regular meeting for final votes. The board’s termination of the prior Butts agreement leaves the district able to finalize the new construction manager contract and to proceed with procurement and project design.