Committee approves seven facilities items including architect consent, lead testing and chiller repairs

The North Penn School District Facilities and Operations Committee on April 28 approved seven recommended actions, including a client-consent letter for an architect firm merger, environmental closeout work at Knapp Elementary, district lead-water testing, server-room HVAC upgrades, replacement of a transportation modular building, a small surveying invoice and a package of chiller repairs.

The approvals were unanimous as recorded in the meeting: committee members voiced “aye” and no opposed votes were recorded on any motion.

The most notable administrative item was the client-consent letter transferring the district contract from Schrader Group Architects to an affiliated firm. Mr. Schrader, representing Schrader Group, told the committee the assignment “does not change any of the agreement language or anything that we're required to deliver as part of the project” and that the district “is getting the same people, the same services, the same product.” The committee moved the letter to action and approved it without further comment.

The committee approved a proposal from T&M Associates to complete the Act 2 closeout at Knapp Elementary following an on-site heating-oil discovery. Facilities staff said the firm negotiated the fee down from an earlier $40,000 estimate to $26,750. Committee members were told the closed project’s remaining expense will come from the district’s operational budget unless otherwise allocated.

The committee also awarded the Act 39-required lead water testing for the 2024–25 school year to Eurofins for $13,175. Committee materials and public discussion clarified that the award follows a district RFQ; committee members noted the award was based on the low bid and that the testing will occur over the summer.

For the high school network/server room the committee approved HVAC work to add three smaller, energy-saving units intended to become the primary cooling source for the room while leaving the existing unit as backup. Facilities staff said the work was coordinated with IT, will be paid from the high-school fund and was accelerated because the server-room risk could not wait for the larger construction project.

At Penbrook Middle School the committee approved purchase of a replacement transportation modular building from Wilmot Modular Structures for $98,150. Committee members discussed that the unit will be purchased, not leased, and staff estimated an expected service life of roughly 15–20 years. The district indicated the modular will remain a southern satellite for transportation rather than being consolidated at the high school.

An invoice amendment for Cowen and Associates for surveying at the North Penn High School property was approved for $1,650.16 to amend that consultant’s contract for additional services. The committee also approved a Johnson Controls contract for district chiller repairs at multiple sites totaling $121,628; committee materials noted a not-to-exceed number of $50,000 for additional York-chiller repairs if needed. Facilities staff said Johnson Controls was the low bidder for the set of repairs.

Committee members asked clarifying questions about funding sources, electrical capacity for the network-room units and whether the transportation modular would be integrated into future high-school plans. Staff responded that many of the items are covered by existing capital or operational funds and that electrical capacity and emergency backup were reviewed during bid evaluation.

All seven items were moved, seconded and approved during the April 28 meeting with no recorded opposed votes.