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Board approves playground change‑order direction, rejects one substitute and declines largest accessible glide
Summary
The Punxsutawney Area School District board rejected one substituted play piece, declined the most expensive accessible glide and delegated final selection among three substitute play panels to district administration while keeping the project under the original equipment budget.
The Punxsutawney Area School District board on Wednesday reviewed contractor change‑order substitutions for an upcoming elementary school playground and voted to reject one specific item while authorizing administrators to pick among three alternate play panels.
Barb from TRH Architects presented the contractor’s proposed substitutions for equipment included in the original bid and recommended rejecting a substituted “balance and bounce” piece because the delivered substitute was for ages 2–5 and not appropriate for the elementary school. "I am recommending that we not accept that piece of equipment," Barb said, noting the substitute was smaller and designed for younger children. The rejected substitute was priced at $6,500.
Barb described three alternative panels—named in the presentation as “Curiosity Killed the Cat,” “My Cup of Tea,” and “Goal”—that could each serve as a one‑for‑one replacement for the rejected piece. Each panel was listed at $66,500 individually. Barb also showed an optional, larger accessible play piece called the Alta Glide, which includes a ramp and allows children in wheelchairs to roll up and play without transferring. "This is a bigger price tag," Barb said, identifying the Alta Glide at $28,006.35.
District and board members and a contractor representative discussed placement, accessibility and budget. The contractor, identified in the discussion as Mark, told the board he would prefer the Alta Glide for play value and because it does not require a transfer for children with mobility impairments. Board members raised location concerns—noting sidewalks and slopes near the proposed area—and Barb said the Alta Glide could be sited in multiple locations and fit within existing surfacing in some arrangements.
Barb reported that accepting all proposed change orders would bring the project cost to $7,710,000, and she said that figure remained below the original equipment cost estimate ($7,500,00 stated in the packet as the original budget). During the discussion, a board member clarified the approved contract amount awarded after bidding was approximately $6.68 million and that accepting all change orders would bring the project to about $7.10 million. Board members also observed the playground budget uses the same category of funds as the planned swimming pool renovation.
After discussion, a motion was made to reject change order 1 (the balance and bounce substitute), reject option 5 (the largest optional piece), and give administration authority to select one of the three alternate panels (items 2, 3 or 4). The motion was moved by Katie (board member) and seconded by Jess (board member). The chair called for the vote: "All those in favor? Aye." The chair then said, "Any opposed? Motion carries." The motion passed and the board directed administration and elementary leadership to finalize the panel selection among the three options.
Board members also discussed fundraising and donations. Multiple members noted district policy limits the board’s role in soliciting or accepting donations; however, the elementary PTO could accept donations and use auxiliary or booster accounts for purchases. Barb and board members agreed panels could be added over time if fundraising allowed.
The board’s vote did not adopt the Alta Glide at this time; the larger accessible piece was to be punted for potential future consideration or funded separately. The board recorded that administration and the elementary team should work with vendor and contractor schedules to confirm the last date to swap components if needed.
The playground discussion was followed later in the meeting by the first reading of a board policy on maintaining professional adult‑student boundaries and by routine approvals of minutes, reports and personnel items.
Ending: The board approved the direction on playground change orders and moved on to the rest of the agenda, leaving potential additional accessible equipment to future discussion or fundraising.
