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Lawrence Township board approves Mary Castle, Craig contracts and several funding measures
Summary
The Lawrence Township School Board approved guaranteed maximum price contracts for Mary Castle and Craig Academy phase 2, authorized a common school loan application and a Chromebook purchase, and approved routine financial housekeeping and consent-agenda items during its Feb. 28 meeting.
The Lawrence Township School Board on Feb. 28 approved construction contracts for two school projects, authorized an application for a low-interest state loan to buy classroom technology and approved the purchase of Chromebooks from Electronic Strategies.
Roger Smith recommended awarding a guaranteed maximum price contract to Powers and Sons for the Mary Castle elementary room addition, with a GMP of $5,500,000 and total project hard-and-soft costs estimated at $7,000,000. The board moved and, after a second, approved the contract by voice vote. "I recommend the board approve Powers and Sons GMP contract for Mary Castle as presented," Smith said.
The board also approved a GMP for Craig Academy phase 2 renovations presented by Smith; the total project hard-and-soft cost was reported as $32,000,000. The motion to approve the Craig phase 2 contract carried by voice vote.
Financial housekeeping measures approved included the cancellation of checks older than two years and a consent agenda covering items 4.8 through 4.215. Matt Miles explained that checks identified for cancellation have been publicly posted and will not be canceled until board approval. "They have not yet been canceled until the board approves it," Miles said.
On technology, the board approved submitting an application for the state common school loan program, a low-interest (1%) program administered by the state that the district said would make it eligible for just over $1,600,000 to buy devices. Later the board authorized the purchase of Chromebooks from Electronic Strategies; district staff said bids came in below the $1.2 million budget (about $1.19 million) and that the vendor offered four years of accidental damage protection.
Votes at a glance - Mary Castle GMP (Powers and Sons) — motion recommended by Roger Smith; approved by voice vote. - Craig Academy phase 2 GMP (Powers and Sons) — motion recommended by Roger Smith; approved by voice vote. - Cancellation of outstanding checks — recommended by Matt Miles; approved by voice vote. - Application for common school loan (approx. $1.6M eligibility) — recommended by Matt Miles; approved by voice vote. - Chromebooks purchase (Electronic Strategies) — recommended by Doctor Gagelang; approved by voice vote. - Consent agenda (items 4.8–4.215) — approved by voice vote.
Why it matters The contracts advance major facility work and lock in construction pricing for two multi‑million‑dollar projects. The common school loan and the Chromebook purchase will fund classroom technology purchases the board said will benefit incoming sixth- and ninth-grade cohorts. Board approval of the consent agenda and cancellation of stale checks are part of routine financial management.
What’s next District staff said formal contract documents and procurement records will be finalized following board approval; the district also expects to complete the common school loan application and move forward with device deployment if the loan is finalized.
