As a Netflix film crew staged a theatrical FBI headquarters at district facilities this week, the Woodland Hills, Pa., Board of Education convened Wednesday to address the school district's ongoing real-life drama.
The board accepted the resignation of its president, Tara Reis, without much discussion, then continued onto two more controversial agenda items: a resolution authorizing taking up to $93 million in debt for facility repairs and renovations; and a proposal to spend $73,000 on a public relations firm.
After nearly tabling the item until August — a move that Superintendent Alan Johnson warned would jeopardize design and planning work already underway — the board approved a resolution authorizing up to $85 million in bond debt over 30 years to finance renovations to several district buildings.
The resolution nearly failed to advance.
The district had been discussing facility upgrades for several months, but this week the estimated grand total became clear: up to $93 million — an amount that board member Jeff Hildebrand called a "terrifying figure," even though he agreed with Johnson that upgrades are necessary.
Board Vice President Mike Belmonte suggested delaying the vote another month to give the district time to publish building needs assessments online for the public to review.
Johnson noted that since the district's existing debt is due to be paid off in 2022-23, the proposed additional bond debt would only raise annual debt service by about $400,000, or from $5.7 million to $6.1 million. He further emphasized that the vote at hand merely authorized a maximum borrowing amount. Board members have to take further action in the fall or early next year to approve specific projects and bond issuances.
"Setting a ceiling is like having a closet in your house; you're going to fill that space," said board member Jamie Glasser, who proposed lowering the maximum.
The $93 million figure was based on architect recommendations that considered the cost of renovations to the high school ($52 million to $60 million), intermediate school ($28 million to $30 million) and Rankin Promise buildings ($6 million to $9 million).
Johnson told the board the proposed spending was not "lavish" but rather an attempt at addressing long overdue improvements and repairs. The intermediate school is a "borderline unsafe building," according to Johnson, and, with its massive electrical and plumbing issues, "the high school isn't terribly far behind."
"This is not a Taj Mahal," continued Johnson. "It's maintaining the facilities we have and keeping them safe for children, which is our duty."
Initially, the board failed to secure the required super-majority to pass the bond resolution.
Then, toward the end of Wednesday's meeting, the $85 million version was reconsidered and approved. Board member Jeff Hanchett changed his no-vote to a yes while noting he didn't want the district to "go cheap on this" and would have preferred to authorize the full $93 million.
"Sure, yes, I'll approve it," Hanchett said as he switched his vote. "We've got to do something."
