Harrisburg board approves $216,000 tree-removal contract after safety debate

The Harrisburg City School District Board of School Directors on Oct. 28 approved a contract with Martin Tree Service to remove and trim multiple district trees, after trustees and administrators disputed whether to press ahead amid state funding uncertainty.

Board President Miss Copeland introduced the item as a recommendation from district administration describing “overgrown” trees with “root rot” and recent limbs falling on campus grounds. Superintendent Doctor Henry and operations staff presented photos and a line‑item quote for work across the district; the quoted total discussed during the meeting was approximately $216,000 and is broken down by school.

The dispute centered on timing and budget. Board member Brian Carter said the state funding picture makes the cost “not [my] type of priority” but acknowledged he went to the campus and saw the condition. “A lot of those trees are in the rotten, a lot of those trees is a real huge safety concern,” Carter said. Board member Danielle Robinson urged a phased approach but said she was concerned about the district’s ability to pay now.

Several trustees and administrators pushed back, saying the district faces clear liability if hazards are not addressed. “Our main concern is the liability of these children,” trustee Ellis Roy said, urging immediate action. Doctor Stokes noted the district’s operating budget and the potential legal and financial exposure if an unaddressed tree fell and caused injury or property damage.

Operations staff explained the proposal is a comprehensive quote covering multiple campuses; the contractor would start with the trees judged to pose the greatest risk—about 20 trees identified at Camp Curtin and William Penn—and proceed to other schools. Staff said the district issues a purchase order for the full contract amount after board approval but pays invoices only after work is completed and inspected.

On a roll-call vote the motion to approve the Martin Tree Service contract passed 6-2. The mover was recorded as Bridal Carter and the second as Miss Johnson; roll-call recorded Miss Anderson, Miss Copeland, Miss Hughes, Miss Johnson, Miss Radcliffe and Mister Roy as voting yes, and Mister Carter and Miss Robinson as voting no. The board directed administration to prioritize immediate safety hazards and to use staged billing tied to completed work.

District officials said contractors would begin with the most hazardous trees and that the work could span several weeks to a few months depending on scheduling and weather. The contract documents shown to the board list tree-specific line items per campus but do not appear in the public portion of the meeting packet; trustees said they would rely on the contractor’s arborist assessment to sequence work.

The board’s action followed extended discussion about stewardship of district assets, short-term cash flow and long-term maintenance needs; several trustees asked staff to continue seeking competitive pricing while moving forward on urgent removals.