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Scranton board details West Scranton repairs, but tables purchase of new work‑order system after trial
Summary
Directors described extensive repair needs at West Scranton High and a district plan to expand preventive maintenance but voted to table a $15,667 implementation and $34,041.60 annual subscription for Operations Hero until committee feedback from the trial is returned in April.
Directors and district staff on Nov. 4 warned that aging buildings at West Scranton High need both quick repairs and longer‑term capital work, and they described steps to improve how the district tracks and prioritizes maintenance. The board also tabled a planned purchase of a districtwide work‑order system after learning the vendor is offering a seven‑month trial.
"They did an exhaustive, room‑by‑room list of everything that needs to happen in that building," Operations Chair Director Borthwick said after a tour of West Scranton. Assistant Superintendent Pat Laffey told the board West High submitted an itemized list and that the district applied for a grant to fund more efficient plumbing fixtures and remodels there.
Mister Rucker, who oversees operations, described a preventive maintenance program that uses preprogrammed checklists and a service‑level agreement. "If we're telling you it's an important [issue], you're gonna have some resolution within a day or at least a start of resolution within a day," Rucker said, adding routine items would be scheduled within three to 10 days.
The board discussed stage safety and lighting at West Scranton — Rucker said the stage has been shut down after a stagehands' inspection and crews are providing cost estimates to remove unsafe rigging. An estimate to remove ceiling equipment was described as "about $8,000, give or take," and one board member raised that full rigging replacements can be substantially more costly.
District staff proposed buying Operations Hero to centralize work orders, inventory, capital planning and building automation. The vendor offered a free seven‑month trial that would delay any financial obligation until June 2025. Laffey said the district "is not obligated to pay them anything until June of next year." Several directors asked for written reports from the pilot committee and requested a committee report in April before committing funds.
The board voted to table the purchase and asked operations to return with a written evaluation from the teacher/maintenance/administration committee and specific, itemized feedback on strengths and weaknesses.
Next steps: Operations will continue the trial, collect written input from committee representatives, and return to the board with a report in April; no contract payments are due during the trial period.
