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Board hears property update: stop‑arm bus safety pilot, middle‑school renovation on schedule
Summary
The board’s property committee reported a stop‑arm bus pilot (equipment on five buses) that detected eight violations and a middle‑school renovation with the auditorium and cafeteria on track for August 2026; several change orders and credits were reviewed for approval.
The Springfield Township School Board received a property committee update on May 18 that covered a stop‑arm bus safety pilot, alternative‑fuel bus research and progress on the middle‑school renovation.
"Equipment was installed on five buses, and data collection started April 27," property committee speaker Mister DeFranco said. As of May 13, the district reported eight violations; DeFranco said that if the program had been fully operational, seven citations would have been issued. He said the district submitted a $50,000 school bus safety grant application and recommended continuing the program if the grant is awarded. The administration estimated first‑year program costs at approximately $55,500, with roughly $10,000 per year thereafter.
DeFranco summarized other committee items, including alternative‑fuel research for bus replacements. The administration said propane is increasingly common and that vehicle availability may expand in 2027; fueling‑infrastructure barriers are being evaluated by third‑party consultants.
CHA Solutions’ representative Mr. Grice reported on the STMS (middle school) addition and renovation: the auditorium and cafeteria/commons are on schedule for August 2026 completion, the clinical suite is near completion (targeted for July/August 2026), exterior and geothermal well site work is progressing, and universal restroom and classroom wing work is expected to extend into October 2026. DeFranco told the board a manufacturer defect was identified in Airedale/Modyne unit ventilators; Modyne and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission are investigating and no units will be installed until remediation is certified.
The committee reviewed several change orders and credits that the board later approved: a flagpole relocation and landscaping (quoted in the committee summary as $36,471.44), a $53,672 credit for unused allowances on the middle‑school field upgrades, and a $55,571 credit for unused allowances on the high‑school roof replacement. DeFranco said one additional change order for a mechanical‑room redesign was still being finalized for approval at the June 16 board meeting.
Board members asked clarifying questions about how change‑order credits are applied; Miss Green explained credits reduce the contract’s final approved value rather than producing a cash refund to the district.
The board approved the change orders and credits as presented.
