Administration recommends Stackbeck Engineers after high‑school civil‑engineer RFP; board to vote March 24

The district’s administration reported results of a civil‑engineering RFP for a proposed high‑school project and said it will recommend Stackbeck Engineers for board approval at the March 24 meeting.

Crabtree Warberg (presenter identified as Seth Wentz of the architecture/owner’s‑rep firm handling the RFP) told the board the selected civil engineer will perform an initial land survey, deed research and lead the land‑development process and township sketch‑plan review. Wentz said the administration cast a wide net—contacting seven firms to obtain three qualified proposals—because civil‑engineer firms are busy and initial outreach produced few responses.

Wentz stressed the importance of early civil‑engineering work to identify constraints such as existing easements, deed conditions and any need for zoning relief. Board members asked technical follow‑ups: Dr. Solomon asked whether an exclusively mechanical/MEP renovation or a $4 million pool repair would require civil‑engineering services. Wentz said it depends on whether the work triggers land‑disturbance thresholds; a new pool or any work expanding the site footprint would likely require the civil scope.

Board members also probed vendor experience. Trustee Sullivan asked how many comparable projects Crabtree had executed with Stackbeck; Crabtree said two projects in the past two years with different project managers, and that it would follow up with locations and more detail on those project managers’ work. Some board members asked for the specific local school projects Stackbeck had handled; Crabtree said it would provide follow‑up information.

The presentation also highlighted two likely site constraints that civil engineers will evaluate first: impervious‑area coverage and parking, both of which can drive the need for zoning relief or alternative design solutions.

The board did not vote March 11. Administration representatives said the recommendation and the engineer contract will be an action item at the regular March 24 meeting.

Why it matters: The civil engineer’s early work—survey, deed research and sketch‑plan coordination with the township—will determine whether the proposed high‑school footprint needs relief and will shape the timeline and cost of the larger construction program.

Provenance: Discussion began when the business‑office report introduced the civil‑engineering RFP results and Seth Wentz presented details; the conversation concluded after board members’ questions about impervious coverage and firm experience.