STATE COLLEGE —Robb Lauzon was sworn in as a member of the State College Area School District Board of Directors during its regular meeting on Monday, Feb. 2.
Lauzon, an assistant professor of communications at Juniata College, was tabbed by the board to fill the vacant seat at a special meeting last month. Gretchen Brandt stepped down in January to assume a seat on College Township Council.
Lauzon will serve the remainder of the term, which runs through December 2027.
New middle school design approved
Also at the meeting, the board voted to approve the final design of the new Park Forest Middle School.
A board vote on permission to bid the project is expected at a meeting later this month. Bid approval is expected in April and for construction to begin in May, according to the updated project timeline.
The district has received two new cost estimates for the project, which show a range of $130 million to $145 million, the board heard Monday.
In addition, the board received a presentation on an updated, 10-year capital plan that details maintenance for district facilities. Intended for future planning and budgeting purposes, the capital plan draws from the ongoing Districtwide Facilities Master Plan and physical plant staff assessments of the district’s facilities.
“The capital plan is preventative in nature and therefore strives to maintain the district’s assets to promote an ideal learning environment with minimal disruption for larger renovations,” said Mike Fisher, director of physical plant.
Recommendations include staggered renovations of playgrounds at the eight elementary schools, upkeep and improvements of current athletics facilities, and smaller maintenance projects at Fairmount Building and the district’s bus garage.
Welcoming Schools Resolution
Also Monday, the board heard a proposed Welcoming Schools Resolution. Board members said the resolution reflects the district’s comment to uphold its legal responsibilities, and reinforce its unwavering commitment to serving every student in the State College Area School District with dignity, respect, and excellence.
The board will consider a formal adoption of the resolution at a future meeting.
In other business, the board:
Accepted a low bid of $141,600 from RL Insulation for asbestos removal at Fairmount Building for materials that do not require demolition to access.
Approved a Memorandum of Understanding with Patton Township related to traffic signaling at the intersection of Little Lion Drive and Valley Vista Drive for the proposed middle school project.
Approved permission to seek bids on 2026-2027 capital projects.
