$1.4 Million Security Upgrade Coming to Easton Schools This Summer

When Easton Area students go back to school next year, they'll return to buildings that have undergone $1.4 million in security upgrades.

Those upgrades include installing new camera and access card systems, and reconfiguring the entrances of several school buildings to include new secure vestibules.

But while the district had initially planned to have the work done between October and May, its engineer said Tuesday it should wait until the summer.

The construction would entail a "somewhat significant disruption" to the district's schools, Josh Grice of D'Huy Engineering told the board. It's not the type of thing educators would want happening during the school year.

Interim Superintendent John Reinhart wondered what would happen if August arrived and the work hadn't wrapped up.

“Is there any kind of penalty built in? How assured can we be?”

Grice said the district could ask for "damages" if the contractor doesn't finish on time. The board is expected to approve bids for the work in February 2014.