Radnor Township SD committee recommends bids for early demolition at Ithan Elementary; tree removals and costs draw questions

The Radnor Township School District facilities committee on March 18 recommended that the school board authorize advertising for bids to demolish two residences and an annex at Ithan Elementary and to install a temporary playground, a step the administration said will allow site work to occur this summer and help the district start major construction in October.

Mister Morris, a facilities committee member, told the panel the recommendation is to "go out to bid" only: "We're not approving any contractors or any contracts with this. We're just soliciting for bids," he said. He and the design team emphasized that any awards would return to the board for approval later in the process.

The design team described the early-demolition package as a focused scope covering the two Roberts Road residences and the annex building, safety fencing, tree work, basement infill and grading, and installation of a temporary play area consisting of a rubber interlocking hard surface for a half basketball court, a mulch play area and a swing set. Steve Breslin of Breslin Architecture and Walt Tack of Site Logic (construction management) were introduced as members of the design team during the presentation.

Project consultant (first appearing as Speaker 1) gave a preliminary cost estimate, saying construction for this early package is about $505,125 (the speaker noted he was "working from memory") and that the team had allowed $100,000 for additional soft professional services and permits; the consultant summarized that gives "a little over $600,000" estimated cost and said those amounts are covered within the overall project contingency and "not an additional cost to you." The consultant added that the $100,000 line is an estimate to cover the administrative hours for a separate bid package and two permit applications.

Design staff said the early package is intended to preserve construction season and minimize disruption: bids would be solicited in June, the team expects to return in May with bid results and a recommendation to award, and the district would aim to award major contracts in August and begin construction in October 2025. The new elementary school is projected to be complete in June 2027, with demolition of the existing Ithan Elementary during summer 2027 and project wrap-up by November 2027.

Tree removal and reforestation were focal points of committee discussion. The consultant estimated the early package includes removal of about 90 trees identified in the project plans; design staff said those trees were part of previously reviewed counts and that the Shade Tree Committee reviewed and approved the reforestation plan. "We're trying to retain large healthy trees on the site where we can," one designer said, adding that many trees in the lower grove are dying from disease and invasive vines and that a reforestation plan will include replacement plantings.

Several committee members pushed back on removing mature trees and asked for more detailed counts and photographic documentation. "I hate to see trees being cut down," one member said, urging a future presentation specifically showing which trees will be removed and which will be preserved. The design team agreed to provide clearer plan-set details and photographs at a subsequent meeting.

Committee members also questioned elements of the estimate that increase the apparent bid figure, including a projected 15% contractor markup (which design staff described as typical contractor embedded overhead and profit) and the $100,000 placeholder for additional professional services. The design team replied that contractor markup is included in base bids and not broken out and that the $100,000 estimate is hourly-based for the extra administration and permit work required by a separate, early bid package.

No formal award vote occurred at the facilities committee meeting. The committee's recommendation is to ask the school board next week to authorize advertising for demolition bids; the team said it will advertise, receive bids, perform due diligence, and return in May with pricing and a recommendation for the "lowest responsible responsive bidder." The May review is the identified "off-ramp" where the board could decide not to proceed before any contracts are signed.

Next steps: the committee scheduled its next meeting for April 15 at 5 p.m. The facilities committee will review more detailed tree counts, photographs, and an itemized estimate of the additional professional fees and permit costs before any contract awards are requested from the full board.