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Scranton board committee backs feasibility study for Westside High gym; vote split 6-2
Summary
The district's athletics committee agreed to place a resolution on the full-board agenda asking administration to pursue a design feasibility and cost analysis for a Westside High School gym. A roll-call showed six members in favor and two opposed; the step is exploratory and does not commit the district to construction.
The Scranton School District athletics and student activities committee agreed to ask the full board to consider a resolution authorizing a feasibility study and cost analysis for a new or reconfigured gymnasium at Westside High School. Director Holmes, who led the discussion, said the step would be an exploratory design study and not a commitment to build.
Speakers cited a longstanding promise to Westside students dating back to a prior resolution in the mid-2010s and said rising construction costs make up-front cost estimates essential. Director Holmes told colleagues the committee's first action should be a request for proposals to architects and engineers to produce design options and ballpark construction and design costs.
Administration confirmed the item is already on the RFP schedule (tier 3) but committee members argued for moving it forward sooner. Director Holmes proposed placing a formal resolution on the next board agenda to commission a feasibility and cost analysis specifically for a facility at Westside High School; he emphasized that preparing information does not obligate the district to any construction.
The committee took a roll-call consensus. Recorded votes on the resolution-to-agenda motion were: Mister Casey (yes); Missus Cheswick (yes); Miss Fox (no); Miss Good Martin (no); Miss Merkel (yes); Mister McAndrew (yes); Mister Borthwick (yes); Mister Holmes (yes). The chair characterized the result as "6 affirmative, 2 negative" and asked administration to prepare the resolution for the next board meeting under the athletics docket.
What's next: administrative staff will draft the resolution and, if the full board approves it at its upcoming meeting, the district would solicit proposals for a design feasibility study and preliminary cost analysis. The district noted that design studies and RFPs can range in scope and cost, and the board will receive firm estimates before any construction decision.
No formal commitment to construction was made during the meeting; directors repeatedly described the vote as a request for information rather than authorization to build.
