Facilities committee details capital projects; district plans to apply surplus to courts, HVAC and other needs

Facility directors and committee members reviewed a batch of maintenance and capital projects the district plans to pursue, and they told the board some of the work could be funded from a proposed $1.3 million transfer to the capital reserve.

Key project highlights - Cafeteria furniture: Students from Central Mountain High School and Central Mountain Middle School worked with food-service director Sharon Berger and a vendor to design new cafeteria furniture; the furniture purchase will be paid from funds saved in the food-service department, the presentation said. Committee minutes note the furniture is planned for installation over the summer and that a few structural repairs in the middle-school cafeteria will be paid from the general fund. - Solar project feasibility: Representatives from the McClure Group (Alissa Wingenfeld’s team) updated the committee on a proposed solar installation, including a pilot concept at Liberty Curtain (a school name used in the presentation) and projected savings; the committee will continue assessing next steps. - Auditorium sound system: The Central Mountain High School auditorium has an outdated sound system; four bids were received and the facilities committee recommended awarding the contract (vendor names in packet). The board heard the recommendation in the work session; the winning quote will be on the upcoming action agenda. - Rooftop HVAC and automation: Several HVAC units at Mill Hall Elementary and rooftop units at Central Mountain High School were described as end-of-life and in need of replacement; the committee recommended replacement of multiple units and a phased approach for the remaining systems and building-automation updates. - Tennis courts and athletic improvements: The tennis courts at Central Mountain High School and Bucktail Junior–Senior High require full replacement; Sam (facilities) said bids were solicited via CoStars and recommended contractors came from that process. The committee also recommended replacement or repositioning of the Bucktail baseball backstop to meet PIAA regulations. Committee materials cite the tennis/athletic work among projects planned to be funded from the proposed transfer of the $1.3M surplus to Fund 32.

Procurement and local bidders Board members asked whether local contractors had an opportunity to bid. Facilities staff said tennis-court vendors were procured through CoStars, a statewide cooperative that pre-vets vendors; other projects have local bidders where applicable. The facilities committee noted many items on the agenda have been on a 10-year plan and the current work reflects prioritized replacements reaching end of life.

Funding and next steps The committee repeatedly referenced the proposed resolution to commit the recent $1.3M operating surplus to Fund 32 for capital projects (resolution on the board agenda). Committee members and staff said that transfer would cover tennis courts, HVAC replacements, and other prioritized items; the board had not recorded a formal vote on the transfer during the work session. Several projects (auditorium sound, HVAC, tennis courts) are scheduled for a vote at the next business meeting with recommended winning bidders and contract awards in the board packet.

Quote Sharon Berger, food-service director, said students who participated “did a really nice job” in researching furniture and working with vendors; she also confirmed the new recycling bins and updated design will be incorporated into the middle-school drawings.

Ending Facilities staff will bring contract awards and final cost breakdowns to the board at the next meeting and asked the board to consider the Fund 32 transfer to cover several high-priority capital needs.