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Scranton board approves $51,346 change order after structural wall found at Montichello East
Summary
During demolition at Montichello East the contractor uncovered an unanchored masonry wall that required immediate stabilization; the board approved a $51,346.76 change order funded from the project's $300,000 contingency and accepted $11,158 in project alternates.
The Scranton School District board approved a $51,346.76 change order on June 1 to repair a structural wall uncovered during demolition at the Montichello East school project.
Contractor representatives told the board that demolition revealed a cast‑in‑place concrete retaining wall with an attached concrete masonry unit (CMU) wall that had not been properly anchored. A contractor from Quandell said the masonry had started to push outward and the wall was “bearing the structural steel for the building,” creating a risk to the roof structure. The contractor described the condition as a buried condition that only became apparent when interior partitions and ceilings were removed.
The contractor and the district presented a remedial plan that uses 6x6 tube‑steel columns anchored to both the concrete and masonry walls with epoxy‑threaded rods (about 25 rods per column). Panza provided the $51,346.76 cost estimate for the remedial work; other bidders (Lobar, Urban Electrical) declined to add additional charges, citing minimal extra work.
Board members were told the project carries a $300,000 contingency for unforeseen conditions. Business staff said approving this change order would not increase the contractor's base contract value but would draw on the contingency to fund the repair. The board approved the change order by roll call; the recorded vote was unanimous among members present.
The board also considered four previously bid alternates for Montichello East that, if accepted in aggregate, add $11,158 to the project; trustees approved the alternates and were briefed that some alternates produce contractor deductions that partially offset other costs. Administration said unused allowances would be returned to the district at project completion.
What happens next: operations staff and the contractor will proceed with the stabilization work as described; the administration said the change order will be charged against the project contingency and the board will receive routine project updates.
Quote: Quandell representative: “Once you open up an old building, you don't know what you're going to run into.”
