ATGLEN, PA — The Octorara Area School District Board of School Directors moved forward with more than $11 million in proposed middle school infrastructure upgrades in April while advancing a five-year strategic roadmap focused on student achievement, facilities modernization, and safety initiatives.
During an April 13 work session, the board approved resolutions seeking three Public School Facility Improvement Grants from the Commonwealth Financing Authority totaling roughly $11.1 million for chiller plant, HVAC, and electrical upgrades at Octorara Area Middle School.
The district requested $5 million for chiller plant improvements, $1.76 million for HVAC upgrades, and $4.33 million for electrical system upgrades.
Administrators also outlined a five-year Strategic Roadmap centered on achievement culture, multi-tiered systems of support implementation, student discipline, safety and security, facilities planning, and charter school strategy. Superintendent Dr. Robert Dutkiewicz described the plan as a long-term framework intended to align district operations around student outcomes.
Facilities planning remained a recurring theme throughout April board discussions.
Board President Brian Norris reported Schneider Electric and EI Associates were preparing cost estimates tied to potential middle school upgrades, while district officials continued reviewing athletic field planning and playground proposals.
At the board’s regular meeting on April 20, directors approved several operational and educational contracts, including a consulting agreement with Literacy Defined LLC worth up to $75,000 for literacy instructional and assessment support.
The board also approved a three-year wastewater treatment operations contract with PreDoc at $4,600 per month through June 2029 and authorized a $10,900 preventative maintenance agreement with Degler Whiting.
Directors approved an amendment tied to Schneider Electric’s investment-grade audit and grant support services through the TIPS cooperative purchasing program, reflecting the district’s broader facilities modernization effort.
Financially, the district approved more than $2.75 million in general fund bills during the April 20 meeting and reviewed a preliminary 2026-27 budget ahead of a final adoption vote scheduled for June 22.
The board additionally approved the 2026-27 Chester County Intermediate Unit core services budget of $50.2 million and occupational education budget of $34.6 million.
Personnel actions during the month included several resignations, new maintenance and custodial hires, and staffing approvals for summer kindergarten readiness and extended school year programs.
The district also accepted an anonymous $5,000 donation supporting an eighth-grade field trip and a separate $1,000 donation from Parkesburg Churches Community Outreach for the Brave Haven program assisting families in need.
Board members recognized winter student-athletes for Lancaster-Lebanon League honors and approved sponsorships for two students participating in the International Young Physicist Tournament in Switzerland this summer.
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