District official: Bell Avenue elevator RFP out, change order for ninth-grade project not to exceed $267,000 to be filed at business meeting

Mr. Deans, a presenter to the William Penn School District property committee, told members the RFP for the Bell Avenue elevator project is already out and that the district’s civil engineer will be on site the next day to prepare required structural work. “The RFP is already out. It's available,” he said, and added the district is working with Laborers Local 413 to identify local contractors.

The update included a timeline for community engagement and installation: the district will hold a community meeting in May to explain visible construction impacts, and construction will begin shortly afterward if no extraordinary issues arise. Mr. Deans said the goal is to have the elevator in place “fingers crossed at the beginning of the school year,” but noted delivery timing is a constraint: “most elevators ... have a 6 week ... lead” and past installations (East Lansdowne) have sometimes taken longer.

During questions, Miss Hoffman asked whether the project remains on budget. Mr. Deans said “this project is so theoretically, yes,” and that the district has set a not-to-exceed figure it intends to honor once bids are received. Later in the discussion Mr. Deans spelled out the planned motion: “this motion ... is to accept change order MC001 for the ninth grade academy renovation ... for an amount not to exceed $267,000.” The committee did not vote on the motion; the chair said the item will be moved forward to the business meeting for formal consideration.

The update also covered next steps: a pre-bid meeting at the school this coming Friday, coordination with Dr. Beacolz on permit-fee discussions raised by a committee member, and a commitment to community transparency before work begins. No formal action or vote was taken at the property committee meeting; the change order and any contract award will be scheduled for the upcoming business meeting for consideration.