Octorara facilities committee reports new vape detectors, water-plant maintenance and LED upgrades
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Summary
The facilities committee said it purchased 10 vape detectors with ESSER funds, completed tank cleaning at the water treatment plant and plans blower replacement and additional summer projects; some permit findings remain under correction following a five‑year DEP inspection.
The Octorara Area School District facilities committee reported multiple maintenance and safety projects at the board meeting.
Committee members said the district purchased 10 vape detectors using ESSER (Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief) funds at a cost of about $25,000. The detectors also pick up cigarette smoke, commotions and loud noise; when triggered they automatically turn on nearby cameras to help staff identify incidents. Installations are expected over the next several weeks.
The facilities report said state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) staff completed a five‑year inspection of the district’s water treatment plant and identified issues the district is addressing. The district completed tank cleaning and scheduled a blower replacement for the following day; a small number of remaining plant items are still to be corrected.
Other completed or planned work included converting gym lighting to LED across district facilities, new carpeting in the high‑school entrance, painting in the high‑school cafeteria entrance, replacement of an incorrectly installed middle‑school wall with code‑compliant glass and correcting an installed window that did not meet code. The district also noted safety‑strap failures on basketball backboards and a pending bid from Degler Whiting to replace them as a potential summer project.
Committee members said the district is lining up larger summer projects and addressing required code and egress fixes, and that some items are being scheduled to use available one‑time federal ESSER dollars so general‑fund dollars are conserved.
District technology and facilities staff were commended by board members for identifying cost‑effective projects and seeking alternative funding sources, including E‑Rate and ESSER, to avoid drawing on the general fund. Staff said a new auditorium projector and other technology purchases were acquired with ESSER funds and that E‑Rate funding may be uncertain in the future.
No formal board action was taken on facilities items at the meeting; the report was informational and committee members said they will move forward with scheduling and procurement as planned.