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Pennsbury approves $47,298 change order for Charles Behn auditorium aisle lighting; board will seek reimbursement
Summary
The Pennsbury School Board voted 6–1 Aug. 21 to approve a $47,298.34 change order to install auditorium aisle lighting at Charles Behn Middle School, and the board directed staff to pursue reimbursement from the design team.
Pennsbury School Board Aug. 21, 2025
The Pennsbury School Board voted Aug. 21 to approve a $47,298.34 change order for auditorium aisle lighting at Charles Behn Middle School and to pursue reimbursement from the architect/engineer that omitted the required lighting from the construction documents.
What the board approved: The motion — to approve Charles Behn Middle School renovation change order ECO 0002, dated July 18, 2025, in the amount of $47,298.34 for auditorium aisle lighting — passed after the board amended the motion to specify that payment would not constitute accord and satisfaction and that the district would pursue reimbursement. The amended motion passed on a roll-call vote of 6–1. Dr. Delwich voted no.
Why the change order: Board members and facilities staff said the aisle lighting is required by code for auditorium occupancy and was not included in the original construction documents; engineers and architects acknowledged the omission. Facilities staff said the work is needed to avoid disruption to instruction and to allow the auditorium to open as scheduled.
Legal and financial steps: The district solicitor advised amending the payment motion to state that approving payment is not a waiver of the district’s claims; the board adopted that approach and instructed staff and legal counsel to pursue reimbursement from the design team. Board members said they are negotiating with the contractor/engineer to recover some or all of the cost.
Timeline and impact: Board members said approving the change order promptly will avoid delaying the auditorium’s opening into November; if the board had not approved the change order, installation would have been delayed and some classes would have needed alternate spaces. Facilities staff and board members said they expect the auditorium to open by mid to late October if the work proceeds.
Ending: The vote moves the project forward while preserving the district’s legal claims to seek reimbursement for the omission and additional costs.
