Administrators presented the Tamaqua Area School Board finance committee on Tuesday with a $490,680 proposal to replace the parking lots and driveway at the high school and middle school.

But board members didn’t bite just yet.

The proposal is from the Gordian Group, the firm that was working on the front doors of the senior high school. Ken Dunkelberger, chief operations officer, asked the firm to look at the parking lots while on site this past fall.

The board heard the scope of the work last month, but no costs were discussed publicly.

The board also wanted to check prices with other vendors before moving on a contract with an approved state and Keystone Purchasing Network vendor, such as the Gordian Group.

Superintendent Ray Kinder said they did check on whether they might save money and the answer was, “Maybe.”

While the district may be able to save some money by not going with the state contract, the district would also have to spend more money on preparing the bid specifications, as there is a $40,000 architect fee, he said.

Gordian already has a plan drawn up, whereas another firm would have to start from scratch on plans, which could delay the project, Kinder said. Going that route could push the project into 2025, rather than this summer, he said.

Dunkelberger agreed. They’re going to spend $40,000 to go out to bid, and those specifications would not be ready until February or March, when many others are seeking those same contractors for upcoming projects, he said.

Dunkelberger pointed to another project when they didn’t get bids, and the concern now was moving quicker, he said.

Board President Larry Wittig, however, said they can wait a week to get additional information. He wanted to know if there could be savings, and if they can, could the project could be done this summer.

The Gordian Group did say they could start as soon as June, pending board approval, Dunkelberger said. However, there were no guarantees, Kinder added, but they believe they can get this ready for summer.

Assistant Superintendent Stephen Toth said operationally, the project would be better started earlier in the summer.

Wittig pointed to a project the Intermediate Unit did with roofs on buildings a few years back, and they saved by not going with a state contract.

The board will have additional information for its meeting Tuesday. The paving project will appear on the agenda, even though the finance committee did not approve Gordian Group’s proposal.

The finance committee did approve a one-year pilot program with Iota. Comm of Allentown to place air quality testing and monitoring equipment inside the West Penn Elementary School. The cost is not to exceed $2,500 with a per month cost not to exceed $600, based on square footage.

The firm would provide the district with information on a monthly basis, and issue an alert if there was problem, Kinder said. The company normally requires a five-year commitment, he said.