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Marple Newtown committee recommends rejecting Paxton Hollow boiler bids, updates bus garage and paving plans
Summary
At its Sept. 9 committee meeting, the facilities and transportation update included a recommendation to reject bids for the Paxton Hollow boiler room project, seal-coating and line-striping work at several sites, and progress on the district bus garage, including state inspections passed and planned paving in September.
The facilities and transportation discussion at the Marple Newtown School Board committee meeting on Sept. 9 focused on several maintenance and capital-work items, including a recommendation to reject public bids for the Paxton Hollow boiler room project and updates on paving and bus garage work.
Mister Desi, presenting the committee items, said the district received bids at a public bid opening on Aug. 12 for the Paxton Hollow boiler room project and, after review with administration, recommended rejecting those bids. "We had the public bid opening for the Paxton Hollow boiler room project, all in roughly around $6,000,000 with all the soft costs engineering, architectural, and all the different trades," Desi said, adding the administration will explore different solutions that better fit the space and budget.
Why it matters: rejecting bids does not cancel the project; it signals the administration will seek alternate approaches and return with options for the board. Desi said the district remains "committed to the integrity of the building as far as the heating and the air," but wants solutions that align with budgetary and operational goals.
Other facility items discussed included interior and grounds work: Desi reported a change order at the Paxton High library for additional painting and thanked the board for support of furniture and commitments to that library, saying, "It turned out really well, and we want to thank the board for all their support with the furniture and and their commitment to that library." The committee also reviewed seal coating and line striping work: one item proposed seal coating and line striping at Paxton, and a separate line-striping-only item for Culbertson (also spelled Culvertson in parts of the discussion). Desi explained seal coating addresses existing cracks while Culbertson primarily needs faded line striping replaced.
The committee received an update on the district bus garage project. Desi said the district passed Pennsylvania state inspections for both the gas and diesel pumps and has fuel in both tanks. He said paving is planned for September with buses returning that month. "We're looking to have the lot paved by September, and buses back by the September as well," he said, adding that fencing and remaining building infrastructure work will continue through November.
Board members asked operational questions about traffic flow and markings; the district said it can add delineation arrows and an additional stop sign to improve circulation.
No formal board votes on these items were recorded in the committee conversation; Desi said the bid-rejection recommendation will be presented at a future public voting meeting.
Looking ahead: the administration will return to the board with alternative proposals for the Paxton Hollow boiler room and with scheduling and cost details for the paving, line striping, and remaining bus garage work.
