Radnor board unanimously OKs release of bid documents for new Ithan Elementary School

The Radnor Township School District Board of School Directors voted 8-0 on Nov. 18 to authorize the administration to release plans and specifications to public bid for construction of a new Ithan Elementary School.

The decision followed a presentation from the district’s architecture and construction team that reviewed the project’s timeline, design choices and cost development. Mr. Behrens, the project presenter, told the board the recommended action was “the authorization for the administration to release to bid the documents for the new Ithan Elementary School.” The board called for a public bid period now and expects to return in February with bid results and a recommendation for contract awards.

Why it matters: the project will replace the existing elementary building with a new roughly 112,000-square-foot facility sited adjacent to the current school so the campus can remain occupied during construction. The board’s vote moves the project into the procurement phase and sets the district up to contract construction in early 2026.

Cost, schedule and design. Trustees pressed presenters about the project estimate, which the board discussed in historical context. One board member recounted an earlier concept estimate of about $57 million and noted the current estimate is around $77 million. District staff and the project team attributed the increase primarily to added square footage, higher site-work needs revealed by detailed due diligence, and higher-than-expected inflation during the development period; staff also cited specific design decisions — such as security glazing and toilet-room construction — that raised costs. As the presenter explained, those factors plus additional site-work changed the scope and pushed the overall estimate higher.

Stormwater, trees and site choices. Board members questioned whether retention basins would be aboveground or underground. The project team said the larger detention basin under the new field was intentionally designed as an underground basin to preserve play space on top; a secondary basin farther from activity remains an open, fenced basin. On tree removal, the team said many trees on the site are diseased or at risk and that the project includes an urban reforestation program budgeted as part of site work to replant hundreds of trees and to meet township review requirements.

Mural and other cultural elements. Trustees asked about preserving the school’s existing mural. A board member warned that earlier materials implied the mural would be moved intact; presenters responded that the mural cannot be relocated whole and that the plan is to reproduce or display a picture of it in the new building while pursuing options to save select tiles and engage students in replacement artwork. As one board member put it: “The mural is not coming over to the new building,” and the presentation team confirmed the new building will include imagery or a reproduction rather than the original wall-mounted tiles.

Contracting and workforce expectations. Several trustees urged contract language that incentivizes reliable bidders and local/regional workforce participation while acknowledging the legal limits on local-preference rules for public bids. District staff said the procurement package will include contractor qualification statements and supplemental questions and that the pre-bid meeting will emphasize standards; as a district representative said, “The district is looking for honest contractors.” The team also described on-site oversight and prevailing-wage certification procedures for work on an occupied school site.

Next steps. With the board’s authorization, the administration will post the bid packages and host a pre-bid meeting; staff expect to return at the February board business meeting with bid results and a recommendation for awarding contracts. The motion to advertise and solicit bids passed by voice vote, 8-0. The board also approved the consent agenda later in the meeting by the same recorded tally.

What remains open. Board members noted potential trade-offs — for example, whether additional bid alternates (such as moving more retention basins underground) could be added without delaying regulatory approvals. District staff said changes at this stage would require new calculations and approvals that could delay the schedule. The board asked staff to continue refining bid language to protect the district financially, ensure contractor accountability and preserve opportunities for regional subcontractors.

The board completed other routine business and adjourned. The district schedules return in February for bid analysis and contract recommendations.